In its quest to develop some of the most eco-friendly vehicles on the planet, Kia has launched a new ‘EcoDynamics’ sub-brand.
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Kia plans to give the new name to the most eco-friendly cars within each Kia model range, thereby identifying them as innovative fuel-stretching and emissions-cutting vehicles.
The first EcoDynamics vehicles - the Forte LPI Hybrid, Kia cee’d Hybrid and Kia Sorento Hybrid - are equipped with ISG to automatically switch off and then restart the engine in congested city driving, a power-saving alternator management system, a gear-shift up/down indicator to encourage an economical driving style and low rolling resistance Michelin tyres.
Future EcoDynamics vehicles will also feature additional C02 and pollutant reducing technologies such as streamlined body parts, alternative fuel capabilities, high-efficiency transmissions and hybrid, electric or fuel-cell powertrains.
Kia Forte LPI Hybrid
Although the C-segment Forte is not marketed in Europe, next year Kia is planning to operate a test fleet of 36 Forte LPI Hybrid cars across the region. The fleet will be used to assess the feasibility of large-scale commercialisation of LPI hybrids for the future.
This new model, which is already on sale in Korea, incorporates:-
- A 114 ps, 1.6-litre engine running on liquid petroleum gas
- Hybrid powertrain with a 15 kW, 105 Nm electric motor, a 180V lithium polymer battery pack and a CVT gearbox
- ISG ‘stop and go’ technology means fuel lasts longer
- ‘Regenerative braking’ re-charges its power pack
- Aerodynamic drag is reduced to just Cd 0.26
- Fuel consumption is lowered to 50.4 mpg
- C02 emissions are only 99 g/km
Hybrid power for new cee’d and new Sorento
The new-look Kia cee’d Hybrid and the new Kia Sorento Hybrid concept cars also made their world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The cee’d Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine and has a similar powertrain to the Forte. The New Sorento Hybrid is powered by an all-new powertrain, with Kia’s new U2 1.6-litre diesel engine fitted with twin-turbochargers to generate more than 163 ps (120 kW). The diesel engine is mated to an electric motor and drives the front wheels via a new double-clutch transmission offering a choice of fully-automatic, or manual sequential gear changes. C02 emissions are reduced to just 119 g/km.
Created at Kia’s European R&D Centre as research ‘tools’, these vehicles will be tested over many thousands of kilometres across Europe and will generate data for inclusion in the design process of Kia vehicles during the next decade.