– First Customer Recognized by MNAO CEO Masahiro Moro at Los Angeles Auto Show –

IRVINE, California, Nov. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — There’s plenty to be thankful for this week, but Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has added to that list by announcing that the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF has officially gone on sale in the U.S. The MX-5 RF arrives two months ahead of its originally announced timing due to shifts in the production schedule.

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Dave Putter, the first customer to take delivery in the U.S., met with MNAO President and CEO Masahiro Moro onstage at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week to receive his keys ahead of taking home his MX-5 RF Launch Edition the following day. Putter was among the first customers to order one of the 1,000 MX-5 RF Launch Edition vehicles in October and is now the proud owner of his 16^th Mazda and his eighth MX-5 Miata.

“Mazda is a unique and special car company that aims to do more than simply sell cars,” said Moro. “We want to build lifelong relationships with our customers and fans, providing them a fulfilling ownership experience they couldn’t get anywhere else.”

Putter’s MX-5 RF was air-freighted to Huntington Beach Mazda, where he took delivery. Approximately 500 additional MX-5 RFs will arrive nationwide beginning in early December, followed by wider-scale availability throughout the winter and spring.

The first-ever MX-5 RF gets its name from its exotic KODO design—”Retractable Fastback”—in which its power-operated top can deploy from closed to open or vice versa in a mere 13 seconds. Complementing the World Car of the Year-winning MX-5 roadster, MX-5 RF satisfies the open-air experience of the soft top model but with a vastly different, coupe-like design and premium accoutrements. It comes powered by a free-revving, 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G engine, paired with either a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels.

Available exclusively in MX-5 RF Club and Grand Touring trim levels and starting from an MSRP of $31,555¹, the hardtop MX-5 adds a 4.6-inch TFT color gauge display in addition to its folding roof. It is also the only MX-5 variant available with the liquid-metal-like Machine Gray Metallic paint.

MX-5 RF Launch Edition is based on the Grand Touring model and comes finished exclusively in Machine Gray. It is the only U.S.-bound MX-5 model to have Auburn Nappa leather and a hand-painted black top for the 2017 model year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers.  Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.  For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

¹MSRP does not include $835 for destination and handling ($880 in Alaska) or any additional taxes or fees. Dealers set actual sale prices.

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IRVINE, California, Nov. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With the all-new 2017 Cadenza now arriving in showrooms, the Hispanic Motor Press Awards^® organization recently recognized Kia’s second-generation full-size premium car as the “Large Sedan of the Year.” In the comparative test, which assessed large cars from multiple manufacturers, judges evaluated each vehicle on safety, quality, value, performance, design, style, environmental impact and technology standards. The winning vehicles are said to reflect the distinctive style, tastes and needs of the influential Latino US population.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161121/441946

“The ‘New Kia’ is world-class by every measure, and the all-new Cadenza is our latest model to be honored with a coveted Hispanic Motor Press Award,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA. “The Cadenza injects a much-needed shot of excitement to the large-car segment with its striking, aggressively handsome looks and premium refinements, and Kia is honored to be named among the best choices for Latino families.”

The stunningly beautiful Cadenza improves upon all the elements that define the large car category, including a precisely crafted cabin, with available cutting edge technology for connectivity and driver assistance, a stronger body structure, and powertrain enhancements for a more premium experience behind the wheel.

Started in 2010, the Hispanic Motor Press Awards consider over 100 vehicles before selecting three final contenders in different categories. Each vehicle’s features were assessed as they relate to the typical Latino consumer in the United States. The award vetting process includes test drives, mass market availability, and affordability data valuations. Judges also take into account overall design, comfort, safety, performance, functionality and overall value package when making their final selection. Now on its 7^th annual edition, the independent awards recognize the best automobiles for Hispanic families.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA proudly serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and LPGA and set an all-time annual sales record in 2015, surpassing the 600,000-unit mark for the first time in company history. Kia offers a complete line of vehicles in the U.S., including the rear-drive K900¹ flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicle², Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona minivan, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States.  Kia’s North American manufacturing operations include plants in West Point, Georgia*, and the municipality of Pesqueria in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Information about KMA and its full vehicle line-up is available at www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

About Hispanic Motor Press Awards^®
Since 2010 the objective of the awards has been to select the best offerings in overall design, comfort, safety, performance, functionality, driver satisfaction and consumer final cost to select the vehicles that offer the best value for the Hispanic family. The Hispanic consumer deserves to know the truth about which vehicles are the best values in the market. For more information and to find out about previous winning vehicles visit: www.hispanicmotorpressawards.com

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

¹ K900 available in select trims and in select markets with limited availability.
² Soul EV in select markets with limited availability.