Kia News - Total tease or total fulfillment? Kia sending diesel Souls to US dealers
December 19, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
Total tease or total fulfillment? Kia sending diesel Souls to US dealers
Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Kia, Detroit Auto Show, USA
Thanks to Lifetime Kia, the world’s largest Kia dealership, we’ve managed to assemble a gallery of Kia Soul’s that have recently been shipped out to American dealers. Nothing special about that, right? Wait a minute, what’s that we spot underhood? It turns out that these cars are actually Korean- and Euro-spec Souls, and every dealership is getting one to use as a demo. Let the speculation begin!
Are these cars here to gauge the reaction of US buyers? Is the Korean automaker seriously considering bringing an oil-burner to the States? Perhaps none of the above. If that’s the case, this seems like a cruel thing to do since we’ve heard that the non-US models are actually better equipped and nicer to drive with the 128-horsepower 1.6L CRDi engine than the 2.0L gasoline-powered Souls destined for our shores, not to mention significantly more fuel efficient.
In somewhat related news, Kia is set to debut a new concept Soul at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. From the side profile (the only image released; see it after the jump), it appears that this Soul concept may sport only 2 doors. Will the impending launch of a small diesel be far behind? We can only hope. Thanks for the tip, Bryan!
Gallery: Diesel Kia Soul in the U.S.
[Source: Lifetime Kia]
Continue reading Total tease or total fulfillment? Kia sending diesel Souls to US dealers
Total tease or total fulfillment? Kia sending diesel Souls to US dealers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - Kia to test fuel cells with neutron imaging to optimize air/fuel ratio
December 16, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
Kia to test fuel cells with neutron imaging to optimize air/fuel ratio
While the hydrogen fuel cell news has been relatively quiet of late, that doesn’t mean that fuel cell work has stopped. Kia (along with corporate partners Hyundai), for example, has been actively developing the technology. On the Kia Buzz blog today, Hyun Jin Cho of the company’s Sustainability Management Team discusses one of the latest steps in the process. Kia is partnering with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute to use neutron radiography to look inside running fuel cells. Managing the air/hydrogen mixing ratio and flow of water out of the stack are key to optimizing the efficiency of the system. If water is not evacuated quickly enough or if too much air or hydrogen is injected, the efficiency drops off. The neutron imaging system will allow Kia engineers to see where the water is inside the stack so that flow patterns can be adjusted. Similar systems have been used in the United States and Europe in the past.
[Source: Kia]
Kia to test fuel cells with neutron imaging to optimize air/fuel ratio originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - LA 2008: Kia’s offers ex-Scion buyers a Soulful alternative
November 21, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
LA 2008: Kia’s offers ex-Scion buyers a Soulful alternative
Filed under: Kia, LA Auto Show, USA
Toyota has taken a bit of heat for seemingly ungreening its Scion xB, which used a small, efficient engine housed in a small, efficient package that seated four occupants comfortably with room left over for their various belongings. Now, many believe that the current xB has been enlarged from the size of previous models to its detriment and has gotten a 2.4-liter injection of power that reduces efficiency noticeably. For those who wish Scion had left things well enough alone, Kia and Nissan have both introduced new boxy vehicles to take the place of the first-gen xB. We witnessed the live unveilings of both new models here at the LA Auto Show and we think they both offer a unique alternative to the standard-fare hatchback or small sedan that many are turning to in an effort to save on their monthly gas bills.
Kia is stretching a bit with its model designations in an attempt to appeal to the young audience they are targeting with the Soul. Let’s see, there is the base model, the Soul+, the Soul! (exclaim) and the Soul sport. Standard is a 120 (or so) horsepower 1.6L four cylinder and a 5-speed manual transmission. An optional 2.0L with about 140 horsepower mated to either the same stick or a 4-speed automatic isn’t expected to hurt overall economy all that much, with both models expected to crest 30 mpg on the highway. Want one? The 2010 Soul will debut in just a few months.
Gallery: LA 2008: Kia Soul live debut
Gallery: 2010 Kia Soul
Live Photos Copyright (C)2008 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading LA 2008: Kia’s offers ex-Scion buyers a Soulful alternative
LA 2008: Kia’s offers ex-Scion buyers a Soulful alternative originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - LA Preview: Kia to debut fuel cell-powered Borrego SUV
November 13, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
LA Preview: Kia to debut fuel cell-powered Borrego SUV
Filed under: Hydrogen, Kia, LA Auto Show
Apparently the production version of the Kia Soul won’t be the only debut on the Kia stand next week in Los Angeles. Kia will also be featuring a version of its new Borrego SUV with electric drive and a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel cell stack is the fourth generation of Hyundai’s in-house developed system as in the i-Blue concept that appeared at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. In the Borrego FCEV the stack will provide power for a 154 hp electric motor and the vehicle should have of about 315 miles. The new stack design is also expected to have cold starting capability down to -30o C. Kia is evidently planning a low volume production test using the Borrego FCEV in South Korea beginning in 2010, similar to what Honda has been doing with its FCX Clarity program.
[Source: Kia-World]
LA Preview: Kia to debut fuel cell-powered Borrego SUV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Kia News - Kia considering ultra-capacitors for next fuel cell vehicle
September 30, 2008 by tsikot · Comments Off
Kia considering ultra-capacitors for next fuel cell vehicle
Kia is reportedly considering the use of ultra-capacitors to store electrical energy in the next generation version of its fuel cell vehicle. Ultra caps have an advantage over batteries in that they can absorb and release energy much more quickly. Unfortunately, they don’t have as much capacity and are currently much more expensive. There is a lot of work being done on capacitors and EEStor has made claims of tremendous progress. So far, though, EEStor has not publicly demonstrated any prototypes of its capacitors. In its current form, the Sportage FCEV has a range of 235 miles. Interestingly Honda has gone the opposite direction for its fuel cell vehicles. The previous-generation Honda FCX used ultra-caps but those have been replaced by a lithium ion battery in the FCX Clarity.
[Source: The Telegraph]
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