Hybrid power for new-look Kia cee’d and all-new Kia Sorento

Making their first appearance at Frankfurt are the new-look Kia cee'd Hybrid and the all-new Kia Sorento Diesel Hybrid concept cars - created at Kia's European R&D Centre as research ‘tools'.

OneShift Editorial Team

16 Sep 2009

These vehicles will be tested over many thousands of kilometres across Europe and will generate data for inclusion in the design process of Kia vehicles during the next decade.

The new-look cee'd Hybrid powertrain is similar to the new Forte LPI Hybrid, but the four-cylinder 1.6-litre engine runs on gasoline, rather than LPG.

Like the Soul Hybrid (shown at Paris last year), the New cee'd Hybrid uses an upgraded powertrain developed from the earlier Rio Hybrid. The cee'd Hybrid now features Kia's Gamma gasoline engine, mated to a 15kW (20 hp), 105 Nm AC synchronised electric motor, Kia's own CVT (continuously variable transmission) and Kia's proven Start/Stop (ISG) fuel-saving stop/start motoring system.

The high-torque electric motor generates its maximum torque (105 Nm) from just 1500 rpm and the Li-Poly 180 volt, 5.3Ah power pack is located at the side of the trunk.

Kia calculates that the New cee'd Hybrid accelerates from 0-to-100 kph in 11.8 seconds and can reach a top speed of 185 kph. The prototype achieves a CO2 figure of 96 g/km. Compared to the standard 1.6-litre gasoline cee'd, CO2 emissions are reduced by 25.0%.

[B]2-stage-turbo for Sorento diesel Hybrid[/B]

The all-new Sorento Hybrid is powered by an all-new powertrain. At its heart is Kia's U2 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine known from Kia Soul and now available in the New cee'd and new Venga.

For Sorento, the VGT-turbo has been replaced by a 2-stage turbocharger to generate more than 163 hp. The diesel engine is mated to a 30 kW (40 hp) electric motor and drives the front wheels via Kia's new dual-clutch transmission (another show debutant), offering a perfect blend of comfort and high efficiency.

The innovative ‘Integrated package module' located in the trunk under the floor, combines Lithium Ion Polymer Batteries with an Inverter and Converter. Taking advantage of the New Sorento's weight loss compared to its predecessor, the extreme engine downsizing concept of this diesel hybrid reduces the weight by more than 100kg. The Sorento diesel hybrid weighs 1,663kg (8% less than a comparable Sorento).

Combined with its sleeker body shape, the Sorento diesel hybrid features airflow-smoothing under floor panels, a rear window spoiler, aerodynamic wheel rims, lower suspension (by 25 mm) and narrower tyres (225 compared to 235 section). The engine cooling has also been optimised using an active front grille that opens and closes, depending on cooling demand to achieve ‘best-in-class' Cw value. The result all these changes and adaptations is C02 emissions which are reduced to just 119 g/km (30% lower than best Sorento) - a truly remarkable figure for a large SUV.

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