By: Dave Abrahams
Seoul, South Korea - Kia has announced plans to introduce a purpose-built low-emission vehicle.
The Niro, which it has labelled a hybrid utility vehicle, has been engineered from ground up as a dedicated hybrid, and is intended to combine the practicality of a compact SUV with the fuel-efficiency of a hybrid.
The new platform and its styling have apparently no relationship to anything in the Kia line-up other than the signature 'tiger nose' grille. The renderings released by Kia (no photos yet) show a sporty, low-roofed profile on a wide-tracked stance, with a long wheelbase and short overhangs.
But that's not really what the Niro is all about; it's what's inside that counts, not what's on top. It combines a naturally aspirated 1.6 litre, direct petrol-injection Kappa four rated at 77kW and 147Nm with a 32kW electric motor and 1.56kWh lithium-polymer battery, driving via a six-speed double-clutch gearbox.
PLUG-IN HYBRID
Since no mention is made of all-wheel drive we assume it's envisaged as front-wheel drive only, but we are told a plug-in hybrid version will follow later in the Niro's life-cycle.
The new platform is also made of more than 50 percent high-strength alloy steel - which means Kia can use thinner lighter sections without compromising strength, helping it to reach its target of a five percent reduction in body weight across the range from 2014 to 2020.
The Niro is due to debut in 2016, with production for overseas markets to start late in the year at Hwasung in Korea.
And that's just the beginning; Kia intends to expand its 'green car' line-up from four to 11 by 2020, including plug-in hybrids as well as battery and fuel cell-powered electric cars, with the aim of reducing its average nominal emissions ratings by 25 percent across the board.
The master plan also involves replacing seven out of 10 current engine types with new, downsized engines, increasing the number of turbochargers and developing new, high-efficiency multi-speed transmissions.