Banbury and Leamington Spa based Volkswagen dealer Spirit is expanding its portfolio, taking on the Kia brand at two sites.

Spirit Kia is scheduled to open at the beginning of January on a 1.1-acre site at Northampton’s Riverside Retail Park. The company says the newly-built 10-car showroom, which has a forecourt for 35 used cars, will be a flagship for the Korean brand.

Spirit will also add Kia to its Volkswagen operation in Leamington, in a purpose-built showroom due to open in February. The 1.5-acre site will display Kia’s entire range, plus more than 70 used cars, and have 15 service bays.

Operations director Terence Byrne says: “We have been looking to expand for some time and have talked to a number of manufacturers. Kia is the fastest growing car franchise in the UK and we believe the brand will fit comfortably with our existing Volkswagen business.”

Spirit Kia brand director Adam Derbyshire says the Northampton site will provide “a brilliant new experience” for Kia customers.

“This is a beautifully designed dealership located on a roundabout used by thousands of people using the retail and motor park. It will release the full potential of the Kia brand.”

Meanwhile, Spirit Volkswagen plans to move out of its original premises in the centre of Banbury to a new development on a prime site on the edge of town alongside Junction 11 of the M40 motorway.