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To mark the massive
expansion of Korea’s domestic hybrid vehicle development programme, Kia
Motors is displaying a very special version of the Kia Rio Hybrid saloon
at the 77th Salon de l’Automobiles in Geneva.
The European premiere
of the Kia hybrid celebrates the recent announcement that Kia Motors,
together with Hyundai, are to supply the Korean Ministry of the
Environment with an additional 3,390 hybrid vehicles over the next two
years, as part of the country’s on-going programme of ‘real-world’
testing to develop hybrid vehicles for the future.
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The expansion of this hybrid test
fleet (from the current 780 cars) makes the Korean operation one
of the world’s largest future-technology test programmes and it
is just one of several Kia research and development undertakings
aimed at creating eco-friendly cars for volume production by
2010. |
Kia Hybrid saloon
The Kia Rio Hybrid
saloon created by Kia R&D to take part in these ‘real-world’ test fleet
activities, features a unique powertrain with a 1.4-litre petrol engine,
mated to a 12kW, 95 Nm AC synchronised electric motor and a CVT
automatic gearbox.
During steady cruising
the electric motor switches off, while during deceleration it employs
‘regenerative braking’ to store energy and re-charge its Ni-MH 144 volt
power pack.
The computer-controlled
system also allows stop/start motoring which switches both engine and
motor off whenever the car comes to a standstill for more than a few
seconds. Restarting is automatic.
This Rio accelerates
briskly from 0-to-62 mph in 12.2 seconds, can reach a top speed of 112
mph and returns a fuel consumption of 53.4 mpg. Compared to the
standard petrol Rio, air pollutants are reduced by 37% and fuel
efficiency is improved by 44%. The hybrid’s CO2 figure is
126 g/km.
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