• Home
  • About Ari
  • About Us
  • Advertising/PR
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with ShiftCon 2020
  • Contact Me
  • Blogging/Marketing Help

Love Peace and Tiny Feet | Ari Adams

Atlanta Parenting and Green Lifestyle Blogger

  • ShiftCon Eco-Wellness Influencer Conference
  • Tips for Moms
    • My Journey & Thoughts
  • Family Entertainment
    • Activities for Kids
    • Disney Movie Exclusives
    • Marvel Movie Exclusives
  • Green Living & Holistic Health
    • Green Lifestyle
    • Health and Wellness
    • DIY/Homemade
  • Travel
    • Disney Travel
    • Road Trip Adventures
    • International Travel
  • Recipes

We kidnapped Kia Niro designer Mike Torpey…and here’s what happened next! #ExperienceNiro

02/04/17 | Travel

Yes folks, you read that right. It was just a couple of girls (myself along with Alice Chase from The Thrill of the Chases) out for an afternoon joy ride in San Antonio in a brand new Kia Niro crossover hybrid vehicle. Mike Torpey, the designer of the Kia Niro, happened to be traveling along the same route, but an introduction had not yet been made. By this time, we’d already been driving for several hours, still had almost a full tank, and plenty of adventure still left in us. All of a sudden, we spot an innocent, unsuspecting Mike Torpey in the background, gleefully enjoying some Korean BBQ and chasing it with some Texas iced tea. Alice and I knew what we had to do…

Kia Designer Mike Torpey, Alice Chase and Ari Adams

We Kidnapped Mike Torpey! 

So we lured Mike into our Niro and rode off into the sunset. Stuffing him into the backseat and demanding he do whatever we tell him.

Ok. That last part didn’t happen quite like that. We had some permission…at least enough to avoid a police car chase. Nonetheless, this poor man still had not a clue about what was about to happen!

Kia Niro Hybrid Crossover
We proceeded to drive down the highway, Mike Torpey in tow. To be honest, we didn’t really have a plan in mind, just to give the Niro a good spin and maybe steal some intel from the guy who knows the car best. But the great thing about life is that sometimes, the coolest things happen when you least expect them.

Mike Torpey and Ari Adams at San Antonio Raceway
So, as we’re driving, Alice pulls off of the road and attempts to follow signs to the San Antonio Raceway. Who would’ve thought we’d get to do any more there than take a few cool pics in a pretty sexy car around the raceway? Like, really, who would’ve thought we’d actually get to drive that baby full speed on a drag strip?!!! Don’t believe me, just watch:

And just at that moment, it became clear that my perfect family road trip vehicle would secretly moonlight as a powerful road warrior for those of us who welcome a little adventure and fun in our day to day lives. I’ve driven other Hybrid vehicles several years ago, but those experiences totally paled in comparison to my Kia Niro experience. Between the 104 horsepower engine, standard sport mode, 50 mpg fuel efficiency, and other advanced technology features, the Kia Niro truly exemplifies the 4 key components it stands on: Practical, Efficient, Engaging and Progressive!

Kia Niro in San Antonio
Now, back to the story…

In addition to us “forcing” an innocent man to actually race the vehicle he designed, we did also subject him a small line of questioning. Here are some cool facts we learned about Mike Torpey and his experience designing the Kia Niro:

  • Mike has always been a car kid. In fact, his first actually drawing was a car. We need to find his mom to track down that drawing! Maybe we won’t kidnap her though.
  • Mike attended school at the Detroit Center for Design AND was at the top of his class!
  • He joined the Kia team during a recruitment drive.
  • He ultimately chose the company because he found that Kia was invested in making a design a powerful part of their strategy, keeps reinventing itself, values it’s designers and care about what ppl think of the cars.
  • Mike  officially started designing the Niro in 2012, but has imagined it for years before that.
  • He describes the Kia Niro design as “a spiritual automotive equivalent of a hybrid mash up of a tiger and a shark.”
  • If Mike wasn’t designing cars for a living, he’d like to be a writer, specifically writing children’s books. Funny, if I were not a writer, I wouldn’t mind getting to design an awesome car like the Niro myself. 🙂

********************************************************

You’ll be hearing a lot more from me about the Kia Niro in the upcoming weeks and months. In the meantime, follow along my Niro Journey on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #ExperienceNiro.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related posts:

The Ultimate Coachella Packing List and More Coachella Music Festival Tips! {Guest Post}
What to Expect During a @Kia Ride and Drive Event
20 Enchanting Castles Available For Rent
10 most eclectic and eco-friendly road trip stops along the California coast

Comments | 14 comments


3-minute-meditations-for-daily-stress-relief-1

Let’s keep in touch!

Sign-up now for my Weekly Newsletter to get the latest tips, recipes, crafts, giveaways and more! (No spam, I promise!)

« Pledge to close your Nutrition Gap, Plus 35 tips to improve your health today
Becoming a Queen Boss: 11 Success Tips for Mompreneurs from Lauren Lake »

Comments

  1. Julie Porter says

    February 6, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    What a fun adventure you had, and how fantastic to be able to drive the Kia Niro on the raceway!! This is a beautiful vehicle and I have heard such great things about it.

    Reply
    • Ari says

      February 6, 2017 at 11:36 pm

      It was truly an adventure. I’m so glad Mike Torpey was so cool with everything.

      Reply
  2. Dawn McAlexander says

    February 6, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    I like that you “kidnapped” the designer of this car and “made” him run it on a drag strip. That’s pretty funny. All kidding aside, this is a really sweet car from the sounds of it.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth O. says

    February 6, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    That looks like a lot of fun. I’m sure you all had a great time driving around especially with a car like that! I like the features and the design is perfect too!

    Reply
  4. Travel Blogger says

    February 6, 2017 at 10:31 pm

    That is so awesome that you got to drive with the designer! I would love to drive the Niro. It looks so sporty, and you can’t beat that gas mileage! I love their new commercial with Melissa McCarthy!

    Reply
    • Ari says

      February 6, 2017 at 11:36 pm

      That commercial is hilarious and yes, that gas mileage is unbelievable! I drive so much every day taking the kids to/from school and all of their activities.

      Reply
  5. Kelly Reci says

    February 7, 2017 at 12:43 am

    what a fun adventure! it was nice meeting awesome people! the gas mileage is truly amazing haha

    Reply
  6. Cara (@StylishGeek) says

    February 7, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    Wow! It isn’t often you get to hang out with a car designer! THanks for sharing your experience with Kia Niro designer Mike Torpey. Enjoyed this read!

    Reply
  7. CIndy Ingalls says

    February 7, 2017 at 4:05 pm

    Sounds like quite an adventure. I think it would be so interesting to talk with a car designer and learn more about their process.

    Reply
  8. Hey Sharonoox says

    February 7, 2017 at 5:38 pm

    This is such a fun post! It sounds adventurous with Mike Torpey on tow. Heard a lot of good things on this Kia Niro car. Really like the body and design of this series.

    Reply
  9. Terri Beavers says

    February 7, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    Well shucks, I need me a new powerful road warier. I’ve been wanting to check out this car since I first heard about it.

    Reply
  10. Our Family World says

    February 8, 2017 at 5:44 am

    You look really happy with the adventure. it is a nice experience for you both.

    Reply
  11. Akhil Sharma says

    February 8, 2017 at 1:30 pm

    At first, I was shocked because of the headline, but then all doubts are cleared haha. Such a nice post

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Week as an Eco-Warrior: 4 Eco-Friendly Cars under $40K says:
    May 3, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    […] on the market for the price.  If you recall, I first experienced the Kia Niro back in January when I got to take it for a spin (on a drag strip) along with its designer, Mike Torpey.  Check out the video HERE!  I […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Meet Ari

Ari Adams Atlanta Mom BloggerWho am I?  Well, to be honest, I am many things: I’m a Chiro-wife, mom of 2 daughters, a friend, a big and little sister, an auntie, cyber hippie, blogger, author, mompreneur, wannabe soap maker...  See? Many Things....but you can just call me ARI.   Learn more about my journey here.

BePositive Graphic Tees

101446971-1004955283

Featured on…

Ari Adams in Vinings Lifestyle Magazine Ari Adams huffington post blogger Ari Adams on The Dr. Oz Show Ari Adams on BlogHer
Ari Adams She Knows Experts Among Us Blogger
TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

Disclosure Statement

This blog features affiliate links. If you see a link to a product for sale on Amazon or otherwise in any of my posts, I earn a small commission if you buy it. As always, all opinions are authentically my own! For more questions about this blog, contact me via the form above. View our Privacy Policy HERE.

Blog Networks

Everywhere Find your Influence blog network

Sign-up now for my Weekly Newsletter to get the latest tips, recipes, crafts, giveaways and more! (No spam, I promise!)

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in