Kia And NBA

After teaming up with Rafael Nadal for the Kia advertisement and sponsoring the recently concluded 2008 Australian Open at the land down under, Kia has then targeted another sport as a way of strengthening the brand. Kia is now the ‘Official Automotive Partner of the NBA’.

The brand expanded its sponsorship in NBA to 16 teams and this move by the brand is the brand’s own way to position Kia in the market.

Kia is proud to be part of such a distinguished organization that is also a perfect fit for our youthful, energetic brand and our dynamic vehicles. The team partnership leverage the excitement of the game in local markets and help us elevate our brand awareness in the respective communities, says Byung Mo Ahn, President and CEO of KMA and KMMG.

As mentioned, Kia is also a proud sponsor of the Australian Open and of the Davis Cup.

This move by Kia only goes to show how serious the brand is in capturing a significant portion of the market.  The deal that was signed by Kia Motors America was a one year deal, and Kia is to become the official car of the National Basketball Association. Aside from the the fact that Kia will be visible during the play-offs and the draft, it is expected that Kia will donate vehicles to the charities that are selected by the winners of the Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year and the Sixth Man awards.

Oldie But Goodie ‘67 Impala

I blogged about the Supernatural series, then its apt as well to take note of that single car that help ‘move’ the story of the series. I’m talking about the 1967 Chevy Impala.

The Impala as we know it today is actually a full-sized automobile that was built for Chevrolet. This ride is known in the 1950s as the ‘prestige car within the budget of the average American citizen’. This is one of General Motors best selling and succesful model and its sales during 1965 with over a million units still stands as a record.

Now the Impala ‘67 that was used on the series was actually part of the third generation ones that was redesigned in 1965. The engine choices for the Impala will include the in-line six-cylinder as well as the famous Chevy small-block and big block V8s.

Supernatural Blues

Finally, Clark Kent and Lana Lang is off my system, I think. After my Prison Break and Smallville marathon, I’m off to start the Supernatural series. I don’t have time to watch and to catch the latest episodes of the current shows on television right now. So what I usually do is to watch it on my off days during the weekends. Just finished season 1 of Heroes, Smallville til season 5 and Prison Break. It’s time for Supernatural.

I’ve been hearing and reading a lot about Supernatural. And from the news and views that I read about the show, I think I’m gonna like this series.  The show that debuted on television on September 13, 2005 follows the story of two brothers played by Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles who travel across the country in a black 1967 Chevy Impala with the desire and the intention of investigating  and then combatting supernatural and paranormal events- these events are based on a number of US urban legends. Jensen Ackles is hugely familiar to me. He played a short role on Smallville, as Lana Lang’s boyfriend.

The show’s creator  mentioned that Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and American Gods as one of the influences when this series was conceptualized and made. The show is now on its third season, and I will tell you guys if this series is worth your time. But I’m telling you right now, I think I’ll gonna like this series!

Grand Old Chevy Impala On The Go

Talking about the Supernatural series and then not talking about the ‘67 Chevy Impala is not doing good justice to the series. As mentioned, the ‘67 Chevy Impala plays a key role in making the story of the series run. This Impala was actually passed on to Dean by his father and the vehicle carries a Sedgwick County, Kansas license. I have this feeling that this car is the star of the show or at least one of the stars. The car carries a plate number KAZ 2Y5. This license plate is actually a reference to Kansas and the year the show premiered on television.

This car was featured a number of times on the show, and its presence on the series started with a teaser that shows the father and his two sons watching a house burns. Whose house, and why is it burning? That my friends is what I’ll find out when I start my Supernatural marathon this weekend.