Kia Motors America, easily distinguishable with their hamster-jamming commercials, will be the “Official Vehicle of the 2012 Vans Warped Tour.” This marks the fifth consecutive year for Kia as the Official Vehicle of the Punk and Indie Rock Music Tour. 

This tour will entertain concertgoers in 40 U.S. cities, and Kia is set to make the most of their partnership by sponsoring the two main stages – the Kia Soul Stage and Kia Rio Stage – and using the stages to display the new 2013 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle.

Kia also will connect with revelers at the interactive Kia Soul Lounge, which features exclusive acoustic sets, autograph sessions, interactive music stations and giveaways. Here, fans can gather information on Kia’s lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles, like the 40 mpg 2013 Kia Rio and the 2013 Soul.

While enjoying the performances from the various bands and DJs, fans will have the opportunity to create their own music. A music station will allow people to mix their own 15-30 second beat, which will then be mixed into a comprehensive beat for that specific city and uploaded to the Kia Soul Facebook page. Like previous years, Kia Motors’ official Kia Warped Tour blogger, Steve Guttibinder, will provide fans with behind-the-scenes insights, videos, and photos, as well as answering questions from fans.

The Tour kicks off June 16 in Salt Lake City and will feature more than 90 punk, rock, hip-hop, rap, metal, rock, and electronic artists.

Kia Soul

The 2012 Honda CR-V Concept reveals the first official glimpse of the styling direction for the fourth-generation CR-V set to go on sale by the end of the year in the U.S.

“The 2012 CR-V Concept introduces the exterior styling for the more sophisticated and dynamic design of the upcoming production model,” said John Mendel, VP of sales for American Honda. “The all-new CR-V will offer an added dimension of style, amazing interior versatility, and Honda’s latest technologies for convenience and refinement.”

Improving upon the current CR-V model the concept model will features a more fuel-efficient engine and reduced body weight.  In addition to all-new exterior styling, the 2012 CR-V will have an all-new interior with a more accommodating and spacious design with a lower cargo floor.

The 2012 Honda CR-V Concept will be on display at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, California, in September.

Check back tomorrow for the start of our newest series – Past Figures, Present Rides!

Car value – or what you get for the money – is one of the most important features for many buyers. With many of us keeping our cars for longer than ever before, that means looking for a vehicle that gets you more for your money, both in standard features and reliability.

Recently, U.S. News and World Report named their line-up of “2011 Best Cars for the Money.”  When putting the list together, they looked at their vehicle rankings as well as the five-year total cost of ownership of each car, taking into account gas prices, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. The final results of the list (below) showcase cars that are not only popular with consumers, but also provide lower than average ownership costs.

2011 Best Cars for the Money:

• Subcompact: Ford Fiesta
• Compact Car: Honda Civic
• Upscale Compact: Volkswagen GTI
• Compact Crossover: Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
• Luxury Compact Crossover: Infiniti EX
• Compact Truck: Suzuki Equator
• Midsize Car: Chevrolet Malibu
• Family Sedan: Ford Taurus
• Upscale Sedan: Buick Regal
• Hatchback: Honda Fit
• Wagon: Hyundai Elantra Touring
• Hybrid: Toyota Prius
• Sports Car: Mazda MX-5 Miata
• Minivan: Kia Sedona
• Midsize Crossover: Chevrolet Traverse
• Luxury Midsize Crossover: Lexus RX 350
• Full Size SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
• Full Size Truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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