By: Dave Abrahams
Seoul, South Korea - Kia has released these teaser shots of the production-ready Kia Niro hybrid SUV ahead of its world premiere at the Chicago motor show in February.
Styled as a joint venture by Kia’s design centres in Irvine, California and Namyang, South Korea, it uses a trendy high waistline, high-set LED tail-lights and and tapering glassed areas to make space for chunky wheel-arch surrounds.
It’s the first model built on Kia’s new dedicated eco-car platform, engineered from the ground up as a hybrid and using more than 50 percent high-strength alloy steel to save weight while adding stiffness.
Kia has previously confirmed it will have a naturally aspirated 1.6 litre, direct petrol-injection Kappa four rated at 77kW and 147Nm coupled with a 32kW electric motor and 1.56kWh lithium-polymer battery and driving via a six-speed double-clutch gearbox, presumably to the front wheels since nothing has been said about all-wheel drive.
A plug-in hybrid version is due to follow later in the Niro's life-cycle.
Production for overseas markets is due to start at Hwasung in Korea late in 2016, but Kia SA says it has not yet been informed as to when right-hand drive versions are scheduled, so it’s too early to tell whether or when it will be released in South Africa. As soon as we hear, so will you.