|
Kia today announced it will showcase several production-ready vehicles at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show designed and built for Europe, as well as demonstrate its “green” credentials with the introduction of Eco-Dynamics sub-brand and the eye-catching Forte based hybrid car.
Taking centre stage for its official world premiere will be the eye-catching B-segment MPV, called Venga. Also debuting at the Frankfurt auto show will be a completely redesigned Kia Sorento crossover and restyled cee’d hatchback. Put on display alongside the eye-catching Venga will also be the Forte LPi hybrid car and hybrid versions of Sorento and cee’d.
In addition, Kia will officially present its brand-new “EcoDynamics” brand, which will soon be applied to the most eco-friendly cars within each Kia model range.
The all-new Kia Venga
The all–new Kia Venga mini-MPV, due to be launched in European markets towards the end of 2009 or early in 2010 will be Kia’s first foray into popular B-segment MPV market, currently dominated by Opel Meriva and Citroen C3 Picasso. Styled and engineered at Kia’s European R&D centre in Germany, the all-new Venga features an unusuall sporty and athletic stance for its segment.
Venga - means “to come” in Spanish language - features a very long wheelbase of 2.615 mm, meaning the model has a very spacious interior architecture with levels of interior space closer to the C-segment vehicles. Kia Venga is equipped with a range of fuel-sipping diesel and gasoline four-cylinder engines that generate from 75 to 126 horsepower.
Every engine in the Venga line-up will be available with Kia’s Idle Stop & Go -ISG technology, first introduced in the cee’d hatchback.
When Kia introduced the Soul crossover at Paris auto show last year, the company has set up a special “Soul zone” where it has displayed seven-uniquely styliazed Souls. Apparently the “Soul zone” has been a success so Kia will again set up a very similar “Venga zone” to display five unique Venga mini-MPVs. Kia Venga will make its world premiere on the opening day of the Frankfurt motor show - September 15th (13:00 CET).
New Kia cee’d
Kia cee’d, the most successful Kia car in Europe to date, has been slightly redesigned for the 2010 model year. The model has received the latest version of Kia’s design DNA, giving it the whole new exterior look and stronger road presence. In addition to exterior refinements, the 2010 Kia cee’d hosts a number of interior enhancements as well as equipment updates.
Inside, the 2010 cee’d gets a new-style steering wheel and gear lever, a new centre stack and new audio systems, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning and all-red dashboard lighting.
Just like Venga, the new cee’d will also be equipped with Kia’s fuel-stretching ISG technology on both, gasoline and diesel engines. Under the hood, there will be an all-new 126 horsepower 1.6L diesel engine mated to the six-speed manual transmission. According to Kia, the combination of technical enhancements and new technology will significantly reduce the fuel consumption (-5%) of the car, while at the same time cut the CO2 emmissions to only 110g/km.
Kia Sorento
The all-new 2010 Kia Sorento will be available as a five or seven-seater and will offer more spacious and luxurious cabin than its predecessor. The 4.7-metre long SUV is significantly sleeker than the previous model with an aerodynamic drag figure of Cd 0.38.
Kia engineers ditched the old body-on-frame structure and designed an all-new monocoque bodyshell – achieving a weight loss of up to 215 kg and improved refinement. The 4.7-metre long SUV is also significantly sleeker than the previous model with an aerodynamic drag figure of Cd 0.38.
The most popular engine choice in Europe is expected to be the all-new 2.2-litre diesel which produces 197 ps. It will be offered with a six-speed manual or Kia’s all-new world-class six-speed automatic transmission.
Available high-tech features on the new Sorento will include: keyless entry, engine start button, safety reversing camera and a panoramic glass sunroof.
Kia “EcoDynamics” sub-brand
The Frankfurt Show will mark the world premiere of Kia’s new “EcoDynamics” sub-brand – the name which will be applied to the most eco-friendly cars within each Kia model range, as innovative fuel-stretching and emissions-cutting technologies are progressively introduced.
The EcoDynamics vehicles at the show will be 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 streamlining body parts, alternative fuel capabilities, high-efficiency transmissions and hybrid, electric or fuel-cell powertrains.
While delivering significant environmental benefits, Kia’s EcoDynamics vehicles will retain a sporty design, fun-to-drive performance and a strong appeal for the young-at-heart. The ‘EcoDynamics’ zone at Frankfurt will display three new models – the Forte LPI Hybrid, cee’d Hybrid and all-new Sorento Hybrid.
Kia Forte LPI hybrid
Kia has transported a Forte LPI Hybrid sedan to Europe for the first time to preview an extensive “real world” research programme it will undertake in 2010. 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 of Forte LPi hybrids will be available for media to test-drive and will be used to assess the feasibility of large-scale commercialization of LPI hybrids for the future.
This new model, which is already on sale to the public in Korea, is powered by a 114 ps, 1.6-litre engine running on liquid petroleum gas, mated to a hybrid powertrain with a 15 kW, 105 Nm electric motor, a 180V lithium polymer battery pack and a CVT gearbox, fuel-stretching ISG and ‘regenerative braking’ to re-charge its power pack. Aerodynamic drag is reduced to just Cd 0.26, fuel consumption is lowered to 5.6l/100km[1] and CO2 emissions are only 99 g/km.
Kia cee’d hybrid and Kia Sorento hybrid
Also making their first appearance at Frankfurt are the new-look Kia cee’d Hybrid and the new Kia Sorento Hybrid concept cars. 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.
The new-look cee’d Hybrid powertrain is similar to the Forte, but the 1.6-litre engine runs on gasoline. 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. CO2 emissions are reduced to just 119 g/km.
| 
