IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NBA All-Star
Blake Griffin and his comedic
talents are back in a starring role in a series of new television
commercials for Kia's best-selling Optima midsize sedan. Continuing
the signature, satirical comedy of previous efforts, Griffin is
cast in the lead role for several big-budget action movies set in
the Old West, ancient Rome and an
aircraft carrier in the series of three 60-and 30-second spots.
Much to the concern of his directors, Griffin begins improvising
and replaces his scripted mode of transport – be it horse, chariot
or fighter jet – arriving instead in the Kia Optima, and making
each movie better if he does so say himself. The first spot,
"Showdown," begins airing online today and on television on
Christmas day during NBA programming
with the others debuting throughout the NBA season.
"As a global brand ambassador, this marks Blake's fourth
campaign for our best-selling Optima and he keeps getting better
and better," said Tim Chaney, vice
president of marketing communications, KMA. "The Optima has
been Kia's most popular vehicle since the time when our partnership
with Blake began, and he has helped us foster connections with
basketball fans across the country, increase awareness and enhance
our brand image."
Created by David&Goliath, Kia's advertising agency of
record, the Griffin spots can be viewed as they roll out on all of
Kia's social and digital platforms, including YouTube.com/Kia and
Kia.com. In addition to the spots, an exclusive virtual
staring contest with Blake Griffin
will launch on the recently redesigned Tumblr page,
blinkgriffin.com.
Griffin Advertising Background
Blake Griffin's comedic talents and deadpan
delivery have made a connection with Optima buyers and basketball
fans over the past two NBA seasons. Kia's partnership with
Griffin was born in 2011 following his famous dunk over an Optima
to win the Sprite® Slam Dunk Competition. As a global Kia
brand ambassador, Griffin has helped grow the brand's presence in
both basketball and pop culture through national marketing
campaigns, commercials and social media. During the 2012-2013
NBA season, Kia's ad campaign featured Griffin offering helpful
suggestions to younger versions of himself as Kia's available UVO
voice-activated infotainment system1 took his futuristic
Optima on a time-traveling musical journey through the mid-1990s
and early 2000s. In the 2013-2014 NBA season, Griffin and
funnyman Jack McBrayer became a
crime-fighting dynamic duo in "The Griffin Force" to try to save
the world one Kia Optima at a time.
Dynamic and Sporty 2015 Optima SXL
The popular Optima
– Kia's sales leader in the U.S. – is an eye-catching sedan that is
available in two powerful Theta II powerplants featuring gasoline
direct injection (GDI) technology: a 2.4-liter GDI
four-cylinder or an optional 2.0-liter GDI turbo engine. A
2.4-liter hybrid powertrain is also available.
The cabin of the 2015 Optima, features upscale and high-tech
amenities. The optional SXL trim brings Optima to another
level of sporty refinement, adding unique 18-inch chrome wheels,
new LED fog lights, red brake calipers, an electronic parking
brake, chrome accented side sills, and premium Nappa
leather-trimmed seats. The Optima SXL is built at Kia Motors
Manufacturing Georgia*, in West Point,
Georgia, and is offered at a starting MSRP of $35,5002.
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 surpassed the 500,000 annual sales mark for the second
consecutive year in 2013 following the launch of seven all-new or
significantly redesigned vehicles. KMA offers a
complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive
K9003 flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento
CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric
Vehicle4, 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 midsize multi-purpose
vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the
United States. Kia's U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and
Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000
plant and supplier jobs.
*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.
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.
1 Warning: Driving while distracted can result in a
loss of vehicle control that may lead to an accident, severe
personal injury and death. Use of any equipment which takes the
driver's focus away from the safe operation of a vehicle should
never be used during vehicle operation.
2 MSRP excludes destination and handling, taxes,
title, license fees, options and retailer charges. Actual prices
set by retailer and may vary.
3 2015 K900 V8 available in select trims and in
select markets with limited availability.
4 2015 Soul EV in select markets with limited
availability.
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SOURCE Kia Motors America