Kia has unveiled the automaker’s very first production electric vehicle. The Kia Ray EV will offer buyers a range of around 86 miles depending on driving conditions and will include a fast-charge option that should top off the cells in around 25 minutes. Otherwise, expect the 16.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to take around six hours to charge on a 220-volt circuit. A 50 kW electric motor provides power to the front wheels, which is good enough to get the EV to 62 mph in 15.9 seconds. That may seems slow by most standards, but its worth noting that the internal combustion Ray with its 1.0-liter gas engine makes due with significantly less torque.
Kia says that Ray EV boasts 123 pound-feet of torque, which is 77 percent more than the 1.0-liter machine. The boxy EV also uses a new type of regenerative braking system in which the electric motor generates boost for the hydraulic brake assist – just like on an internal combustion vehicle. The automaker says that the result is a linear brake that still manages to recuperate energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration. As wonky brake feel is one of our chief sticking points with all EVs, this comes as welcome news. Read More »
Most vehicles stay on the market for a good six or more years before they’re replaced. But Kia isn’t most automakers. The Korean brand has a lot to prove, and as it turns out they’re intent on doing just that by keeping their product portfolio fresh.
That’s why, though the current Forte sedan has only been on the market since 2009, Kia is already planning on replacing it in the new year with a 2013 model. And this could be our first look at it.
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We’re not exactly surprised, but Kia will be selling the sedan version of the Rio for $200 less than the five-door hatchback. The five-door is on sale now, while the $13,400 sedan won’t hit dealers until January 2012.
An automatic-equipped Rio sedan will set you back $14,500, while the high-end SX trim starts at $17,500. None of those prices include the $750 destination charge.
While we found a lot to like about the all-new Rio five-door in our First Drive, we remain disappointed that yet another automaker has decided to charge a premium for the hatchback version. If we had a nickel for every time we’ve heard automakers say Americans don’t want to buy hatchbacks, we’d all be able to retire to Bora Bora.
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AutoExpress recently took the time to sit down with Kia design guru Peter Schreyer for a chat about the company’s GT Concept that debuted at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Schreyer is understandably keen to bring the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sedan to market, though he isn’t necessarily wedded to the 400-horsepower turbocharged V6 under the concept’s hood. Schreyer said that any number of drivetrain options could conceivably work, including hybrid and smaller displacement powertrains. The designer believes that Kia could still produce an executive sedan with the performance that buyers want while still maintaining excellent fuel economy.
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Kia has announced that the 2012 Rio 5-door will carry a price tag of just $13,600, excluding a $750 destination fee. For that slim slice of change, buyers can enjoy a vehicle with an automatic start/stop system designed to conserve fuel when the hatch would otherwise be idling. Kia says that this is the first application of the technology outside of the hybrid and luxury segments in the States. Combined with the company’s 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine, the 2012 Rio 5-Door is good for 138 horsepower and up to an EPA rated 31 miles per gallon city and 40 mpg highway.
If the bare-bones Rio 5-Door LX isn’t quite your speed, there are two additional trims to choose from, including the topped-out SX guise. With 17-inch alloy wheels, LED-trimmed head and taillights and the company’s UVO voice-activated entertainment system, the Rio 5-Door SX is loaded with an impressive level of gear. Hit the jump for the press blast.
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While airbags can be a major safety asset in the event of an accident, crash test data and real-world incidents have shown that front airbags can actually be dangerous for younger, lighter children. Many newer vehicles now have sensors that turn off the front passenger airbag when the occupant doesn’t meet weight requirements, but the sensor may not work in some 2007 and 2008 Kia Sorento models.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced the recall of 10,631 Kia Sorento models built between June 15, 2006 and November 27, 2007. At issue is an Occupant Classification System that may incorrectly classify adults as children. When that happens, the “passenger air bag off” light will illuminate, and the airbag won’t go off in the event of an accident.
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Turns out that Car and Driver was wrong about Kia’s upcoming rear-wheel-drive concept for Frankfurt being called the Veredus. The pulp and ink mag itself stumbled upon a bevy of newly leaked images showing Kia’s four-door coupe concept, and lo and behold, one of them reveals what this car will actually be called: GT.
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