The Niro avoids the mushy acceleration that plagues some hybrids by, among other things, providing an electric motor that by itself can propel the auto as fast as 112 km/h, Hedrick said.
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Unlike the Prius, the new Niro also uses a lightweight 1.56kWh lithium ion batteries instead of the Toyota’s less efficient nickel hydride cells. A 43-hp tractive motor, known as the transmission-mounted electric device (TMED), works in tandem with the gasoline engine to produce a robust 146 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque.
Kia is finally getting its eco feet soaked with the launch of its new eco lineup, including the Niro, Optima Hybrid and Optima Hybrid Plug-In along with its award-winning Soul EV. A full charge can be achieved in less than three hours via a 240V charger, and less than nine hours via a 120V charger. But the 2017 Kia Niro Hybrid is certainly this Chicago show’s most significant premiere. It boasts fuel economy of 50 miles per gallon, which translates into about 21.5 kilometers per liter.
The Kia Optima Hybrid features a 2.0-liter, direct-injected, four-cylinder motor with a 38 kW electric motor mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Niro will be introduced under Kia’s EcoDynamics sub-brand, the name of which appears on many of its most frugal models. I spoke with the head of product planning, and he also confirmed that there will be a plug-in hybrid version in the future as well to join the plug-in Optima. Kia Optima HybridThe all-new Kia Optima Hybrid is based on the gas version of the Optima sedan that debuted previous year. It benefits from the same improvements in packaging and also uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine, but with a much smaller capacity battery and less powerful electric motor.
As for driving range, you can drive for about 600 miles (965 km) in the Optima PHEV, depending of course on your choice of modes. Culled from the 2017 Sportage, it supports both Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay as well as numerous UVO eServices. Both cars will feature Kia’s new “Eco-DAS” driving assistant that the company says essentially coaches the driver when to coast and brake via an icon in the cluster that blinks for four seconds and sounds a one-time audible alert.
The use of aluminum was able to bring down the overall weight of the vehicle.
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We’ll get our hands on the Niro this summer, to fully assess Kia’s claims about its dynamic abilities – when we’ll also find out about pricing, but expect that figure to hover between the £21,000 and £25,000 mark when it does hit United Kingdom showrooms later this year. The Niro features an equally well-sorted regenerative braking system that blends well with the conventional hydraulic binders resulting in a more natural pedal feel. A Kia spokesman told us that the projected on-sale date is early next year.
