Dyson are a UK-based company best known for making high-end vacuum cleaners, but it has long been rumored that they are going to enter the electric car market.

That rumor has now been confirmed, as Dyson are expected to have an EV model on the market by 2020.

The upcoming all electric car will, reportedly, come with truly innovative solid state battery technology and stunning design.

The vacuum cleaners brand will be newbies to the auto industry, and many perceive the move to be a huge gamble for them.

The question now is whether they can be a threat to existing car makers such as the Kia, Hyundai and others.

There are not a lot of details about the Dyson EV available at the moment, but there are a few things we do know.

Let’s talk about some things for sure we know about the upcoming 2020 Dyson electric car.

1. Dyson EV release date

The first EV model from Dyson is expected to arrive in 2020, after which new models will be added to the line-up.

2. Will it be available in the US?

The US now boasts one of the largest EV markets in the world, so we would certainly expect the Dyson electric vehicle to be made available there. No timeline exists yet, so we can’t be sure when it will arrive.

3. Battery pack

It will be solid state batteries that will be used in the Dyson EV. This type of battery is considered to be next-gen, and all of the automakers who make EV’s have been trying to introduce the technology for a while.

The battery build is both complex and expensive, but Dyson have already stated that the battery will be ready to go come production time.

4. Size

Dyson have offered up no detail on the size or design type of their upcoming electric car, but they have said that it will not be a sports model, and it will not be cheap.

Dyson have also stated that they will not be in competition with the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Soul EV, or Nissan Leaf.

This would suggest that they are going the luxury EV route, which would put them in direct competition with the Tesla 3 or Tesla S.

5. Price

Again, Dyson are remaining tight-lipped about the pricing of their EV, but if they do create a larger luxury model, you can expect pricing to start at around $35,000.

6. Billion $ investment

Sir James Dyson, founder of the company, recently issued a letter to employees saying that Dyson is investing 2 billion pounds in the new EV. Half of the money will be spent on the vehicle, with the other half going towards the creation of the solid state batteries that will power it.

7. 400 engineers hard at work

It’s full steam ahead at Dyson, with about 400 people working on the EV project. Dyson chose now to make the news public, as they believe it will help with recruitment and partnerships with third-party suppliers.

Among the people working on the project are former high-level employees recruited from Aston Martin, including their former head of development, Ian Minards.

Will the Dyson EV be a success?

This is a new venture for Dyson, but they are already ahead of Tesla in regards that they have experience with large scale manufacturing, which was new to Tesla at the outset.

While this certainly helps their cause, they need more than just that experience to succeed in the automotive market.

The people at Dyson seem to be well aware of this, and are already developing a positive mindset.

They have admitted that they know it’s a crowded market, but they also believe that they have a superior product that can do more than just compete.

Let’s not forget that the vacuum cleaner market was also crowded when Dyson arrived, and they succeeded there in a big way.

Buying a used Kia vehicle in the UK? MOT test could prove beneficial!

Buying a used car is always a bit of a risk, especially for young drivers.

The Kia is one of the most popular first cars young drivers opt for due to its fun design, fuel economy and affordability.

However, it’s popularity as a first car also makes it a target for fraudsters and unreliable sellers.

So, if you’ve recently bought a used Kia vehicle in the UK, you may want to check its MOT history.

What does the MOT check tell you?

An MOT check tells you everything you need to know about whether the car has passed all of its MOT tests and if not, the reason why it didn’t.

It basically lets you double check the seller is being 100% truthful about the condition of the Kia vehicle.

Usually, when you buy a Kia car, you’re given MOT documentation.

This can either be in the form of a paper document, or it could be recorded online.

While it doesn’t happen very often, the paper version of the MOT data can be forged and altered by the seller.

The online version however can’t be changed. So, if you only received a paper document, it could be worth finding out if it is genuine.

An MOT data check can also tell you any potential future problems the car may have. It’s worth noting there are many MOT checking services online, but some provide much more information than others.

A check from CAP Automotive for example, is included as part of an HPI check.

This means as well as the MOT information, you’ll also discover whether the car has been reported as stolen and whether it has any outstanding finance.

It definitely pays to opt for the more extensive HPI check. So, what benefits come from having an MOT check after you’ve purchased your used Kia?

MOT check benefits

Typically, MOT and HPI checks are mostly beneficial for those interested in buying a second-hand car.

So, what benefits can you expect if you’ve already bought the car? Well, if you’ve purchased a popular used Kia model such as the Picanto city car, it helps you to determine how well it’s been looked after.

You’ll get to see whether you can expect to have to pay for any repairs in the near future and how long you have until the next MOT is due.

Overall, an MOT check is a really useful tool that’s best used before you buy a used car.

However, it can also prove beneficial to those who have recently purchased a car; especially if it came with a warranty.

If the check reveals anything suspicious and it is still under warranty, you can always take it back.

UK leasing market hots up, so check what Kia has to offer!

As recently as ten years ago, car leasing was something aimed at companies that wanted to procure new cars or vans in a hassle-free way for staff members to drive, either as part of their day to day work, or perhaps as an employment perk.

These were cars that could be used, abused (within reason) then given back to the lease company after three years before they could start giving trouble or needing expensive repairs.

At some point, some clever marketing type realised that all these benefits would be attractive to individuals as well as companies, and so the concept of private leasing was born.

Today, the UK car leasing market has never looked stronger.

It has brought a wider range of vehicles into everyday budgets than ever before – the fact that Range Rover Evoque leasing deals can be negotiated for less than £300 per month on a personal contract provides all the evidence you need.

What are the implications for Kia drivers, and is the leasing phenomenon something they should be considering too?

Kia lease deals in UK

The beauty of car leasing specialists is that they can source just about any new car on the market, so the full Kia range is available to lease, ranging from the Picanto at less than £150 per month right up to the Sorento seven seater at around £350.

To put that Range Rover Evoque deal into context, the nearly equivalent Kia Sportage leasing rates come in at around £265 per month for the Crdi KX 2 2,0L diesel model.

Does it represent the best value for money?

For hassle-free motoring, a lease agreement is hard to beat.

Choose a deal in which servicing and road tax is all taken care of, and you literally have no other costs or worries to think about for the duration of the lease.

All you have to do is fill the tank up with fuel and get on your way.

Having said that, there are some cautionary factors you need to bear in mind:

• There will generally be an agreed mileage. Make sure you stick to it, as if you return the car with more miles on the clock than agreed, you will face additional charges.

• Keep on top of those knocks and scrapes. If you’ve bought your own car and you kerb the alloy wheels or scuff the bumper in the supermarket car park, then it is up to you whether or not you decide to do anything about it. With a lease car, make sure you report any damage so that appropriate action can be taken. Wear and tear will be expected over the course of three years, but that does not include dents, scrapes and broken mirrors!

• The lease price is based on residual values. Cars that lose more value over the course of three years will therefore effectively cost more than those that retain their values better. This is why cars such as Mercedes, BMW and the Range Rover we mentioned earlier represent such good deals.

Which automaker ranks highest for quality in 2017?

You may be surprised to learn that it’s Kia Motors, but we certainly aren’t!

This is the second consecutive year at the top of the heap for Kia in the J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, as they once again beat out all the other automotive industry brands.

Last year, in the 2016 IQS, Kia became the first non-luxury brand in 27 years to lead the industry in initial quality, following a strong performance in the 2015 IQS, in which the brand ranked second overall.

Besides leading the pack in the 2017 car quality survey, Kia also had 5 different models top their segment, once again proving the reliability of Kia cars.

Let’s have a look at the top quality Kia vehicles on sale in the United States today.

Top quality compact MPV: Kia Soul

This is the third straight year that the ever-popular Kia Soul funky car landed on top of the compact MPV segment.

The Soul came in with a score of 68 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which was an increase of 4 PP100 over last year.

We regularly hear from Soul owners who love their vehicle, and that praise has now been confirmed in the annual car quality study.

Best quality compact car: Kia Forte

The Kia Forte took the top spot in the compact car segment. The Forte comes in a number of body styles, including the 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback, and it made a big jump in quality this year.

It ended up with a score of 75 PP100, which is an increase of 11 PP100 over the score it gained last year.

Top quality small SUV: Kia Niro & Sportage

The small SUV segment features a pair of Kia vehicles at the top of the list.

The brand-new Kia Niro hybrid crossover took the top spot, but it was followed very closely by the Sportage SUV.

What makes this result even more impressive is that these vehicles lead the small SUV segment by an average of 30 points, once more underlying the quality of the Kia cars.

Highest quality midsize SUV: Kia Sorento

The Sorento SUV, which is manufactured in the US, also did well, landing on top in the ultra-competitive midsize SUV segment.

Some of the vehicles that the Sorento beat out include the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Buick Enclave.

The Kia Sorento had the fewest problems in the segment across all the measured categories, which must have been a proud moment for the folks who do all the hard work at the Kia production plant in the US.

Most quality large car: Kia Cadenza

Last, but by no means least, the redesigned Cadenza managed the best score across all industry models with an impressive 51 PP100.

It wasn’t even particularly close, as the Cadenza led the next best vehicle by 14 PP100 in the large car segment.

The average in that segment is 91 PP100, which again clearly shows just how dominant this win was for the Kia Cadenza.

Kia, more than value brand

The days of Kia being viewed as nothing more than a value brand are now long gone.

As you can see from this list of the best quality Kia cars, you are making a smart investment when you choose to get behind the wheel of a Kia.