Kia News - Kia introduces production Forte LPI Hybrid in South Korea
March 25, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Kia introduces production Forte LPI Hybrid in South Korea
Kia has just introduced its first mass production hybrid model based on the new Forte compact sedan in its home market of South Korea. The Forte LPI hybrid uses a smaller 20-hp version of the hybrid system that Hyundai showed at the LA Auto Show last November. That system uses a pancake motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission for electric drive and boost as well as regenerative braking. A separate, integrated starter generator handles auto start-stop duties.
The Forte hybrid uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine fueled by liquefied petroleum gas (propane) and is the first production vehicle to use a lithium polymer battery. The new battery was developed by LG Chem and will also be used in the Sonata Hybrid when it debuts next year. Along with the hybrid Forte, Kia rolled out new eco-Dynamics branding for its more efficient vehicles including hybrids.
While it’s unlikely we’ll ever see an LPG-equipped car from Kia in the U.S. market, it does seem likely that a Forte hybrid with a gas engine will arrive at some point. We’ve contacted Kia for comment on that but have yet to get a response. Thanks to Mike for the tip!
Update: Kia spokesman Alex Fedorak got back to us on US plans for the Forte hybrid. Unfortunately at this time there aren’t any.
Gallery: Kia Forte LPI Hybrid
[Source: Kia-World]
Kia introduces production Forte LPI Hybrid in South Korea originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - Geneva 2009: Kia c’eed hybrid and ISG
March 3, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Geneva 2009: Kia c’eed hybrid and ISG
Filed under: Hybrid, Kia, Geneva Motor Show
Kia is showing off two new and fuel-efficient variants of its compact c’eed here in Geneva this week. The first, which is going on sale immediately, is the c’eed ISG, or Idle Stop and Go. The ISG, as the name implies, features an auto start-stop system that is claimed to improve urban fuel efficiency by up to 15 percent. As with other such systems, it simply shuts down and restarts the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and resumes. The ISG setup is available on 1.4L and 1.6L engines in all three c’eed body styles.
The second variant is a hybrid model of the c’eed using a system similar to that shown at the LA Auto Show for the next generation Sonata. The main difference is the use of a 15 kW motor rather than the 30 kW unit used for the Sonata, along with a CVT in place of the conventional automatic transmission. Otherwise, the lithium polymer battery remains for the test fleet that will run in Europe with estimated fuel efficiency of 48.9 mpg (U.S.).
[Source: Kia]
Continue reading Geneva 2009: Kia c’eed hybrid and ISG
Geneva 2009: Kia c’eed hybrid and ISG originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - Popular Mechanics compares fuel efficiency of Nissan Cube, Kia Soul and Scion xB
February 27, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Popular Mechanics compares fuel efficiency of Nissan Cube, Kia Soul and Scion xB
Filed under: MPG, Kia, Nissan, Scion
The latest generation of the Scion xB - the car that kicked off the currently popular “box-it-came-in” styling trend - may be a perfectly fine vehicle with a few welcome improvements over the first edition, but we still miss the size, shape and fuel economy that the old model was able to deliver. Now that the 2009 Nissan Cube and 2010 Kia Soul are on their way to U.S. shores, drivers may finally get to choose what size they want their brick-like vehicles to come in.
Popular Mechanics managed to snag one of each of these triplets and they took the opportunity to drive them back-to-back through city slogs, canyon curves and the highway superslabs in between. Not surprisingly, all three vehicles seem to have offered something to recommend them over their competitors, but only one machine could come out on top, and it was the one that also managed to post the best fuel efficiency. We won’t steal their thunder, though, click here for the full story.
[Source: Popular Mechanics]
Popular Mechanics compares fuel efficiency of Nissan Cube, Kia Soul and Scion xB originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - Chicago 2009: Kia Forte, a “loud” compact sedan for 2010 with 36 highway mpg
February 12, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Chicago 2009: Kia Forte, a “loud” compact sedan for 2010 with 36 highway mpg
Filed under: Kia, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Chicago Auto Show
To the uplifting sounds of blues music, Kia took the wraps off the new Forte (get it? It’s musical and it means “strong.” Someone give the naming department a cookie) at the Chicago Auto Show today. The Forte will be available in three trim levels: LX, EX and SX. You can read details about the sporty SX over on Autoblog; here we’ll focus on the EX and more luxurious LX versions, as they get the best mileage ratings.
Both the LX and EX use a 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine that produces 156 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque. These trims come with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and multi-port electronic fuel injection and use either an optional electronically-controlled four-speed automatic transmission or a standard five-speed manual transmission. The EX and LX are also available with an optional Fuel Economy Package, which adds a five-speed automatic transmission to some low-rolling resistance tires to get, and I quote from the press release, “class-leading combined fuel economy of 36 mpg (highway).” That’s less than clear, but a quick call to Kia PR and a look at the spec sheet provides these numbers: The LX and EX get 25 city / 34 highway with the 4-speed automatic and 26 city / 36 highway with the Fuel Economy Package. Kia’s Alex Fedorak told AutoblogGreen that using the EPA formula, the Fuel Economy Package Forte gets a combined rating of 31 mpg. That 39 mpg diesel Forte that Korea gets? No such luck for the U.S.
Look for the 2010 Forte at dealerships later this spring or in early summer, and expect more from news, including pricing, on the Forte brand later in the year.
Gallery: Chicago 2009: Kia Forte
Gallery: Kia Forte
Live Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Chicago 2009: Kia Forte, a “loud” compact sedan for 2010 with 36 highway mpg
Chicago 2009: Kia Forte, a “loud” compact sedan for 2010 with 36 highway mpg originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - Kia expects 15% city efficiency boost from start-stop system
January 17, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Kia expects 15% city efficiency boost from start-stop system
Kia’s compact cee’d hatchback will be getting a new automatic start-stop system starting this spring in Europe. The system which switches off the engine when the car comes to a stop and restarts it when the clutch pedal is pressed down should give about a fuel efficiency boost of about six percent overall. However, in urban stop and go driving the difference can be up to 15 percent. Such systems will be increasingly common in the next few years (see: Ford) as a low cost way of reducing idle emissions without having to go to a full hybrid system. The starter/generator is supplied by Bosch and the cee’d is built in Slovakia.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Kia expects 15% city efficiency boost from start-stop system originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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