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IRVINE, Calif. — A Kia model officials from Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com said once was an industry "punch line" now is dominating positive growth, according to the site's most recent Hot Car Report.

KBB determined that weekly shopping growth among all vehicles as well as newly introduced and redesigned models was led by the 2011 Kia Sportage.

Overall, activity interest in the Sportage climbed 126 percent. The next closest vehicle was the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class at 36.4 percent.

Among newly introduced and redesigned models, the differential was even greater. The Sportage's week-over-week climb was a whopping 403.1 percent. Coming next was the 2011 Ford Explorer at 94.5 percent.

"Warranties, incentives and real or perceived reputations for quality may be what close many car deals, but design and emotional appeal are what draws activity into the showroom," KBB officials emphasized.

"Whether it is a hot flagship model like a Chevrolet Camaro or a consistent design spirit as seen in the current line of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, sexy sheet metal counts. Of all the manufacturers currently selling vehicles in the United States, it seems that the previously lowly Kia understands this tenet best of all and has put it into high gear," they continued.

What appears to be fueling this trend is 2011 Kia Sportage.

"Kia's 2011 Sportage, once an automotive punch line, has reemerged with energy and design sure to set it apart in the already crowded and aggressive small crossover market," KBB declared.

"According to recent shopper interest on Kbb.com, Kia's gamble already is paying back strong dividends," officials added.

The Sportage wasn't the only Kia model on the overall list for activity growth at Kbb.com. The Sedona was among the top five, too, enjoying a week-over-week gain of 27.7 percent.

The other two vehicles posting the strongest overall advances were the Audi R8 (30 percent) and Mazda RX-8 (25.7 percent).

Sliding in the opposite direction was a wide array of vehicles from both domestic and foreign manufacturers. That group with a negative activity reading included the Honda Fit (down 17.2 percent), Ford Flex (down 17.5 percent), Buick Regal (down 19 percent), Porsche Cayman (down 21.1 percent) and Volvo XC70 (33.9 percent).

Turning back to newly introduced and redesigned models, the three vehicles that followed the Kia and Ford units with upward climbs were the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze (up 10.7 percent), 2011 BMW 5-Series (up 3.7 percent) and 2011 Volvo S60 (up 2.7 percent).

No vehicle on this segment of the most recent Hot Car Report suffered double-digit declines. The most was for the 2011 Lincoln MKX, which was off by 8.4 percent. The rest included the 2011 Cadillac CTS (down 7.3 percent), 2011 Saab 9-5 (down 5.9 percent), 2011 Ford Fiesta (down 3.8 percent) 2011 Ford Edge (down 3 percent), 2011 Honda CR-Z (down 2.5 percent), 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee (down 0.9 percent) and 2011 Mazda MAZDA2 (down 0.2 percent).