Kia Niro (China)
Following its world premiere at the 2016
Chicago Auto Show and European premiere at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Kia
Niro made its Chinese debut at 2016 Auto China (2016 Beijing Motor Show) last
month.
The South Korean automaker’s first
dedicated hybrid vehicle is based on a new eco-car platform that will underpin
more future green Kia models. It’s a sub-compact CUV positioned between
hybrid-electric vehicle and crossover utility vehicle segments.
The Kia Niro measures 4,355 mm in
length, 1,800 mm in width, 1,535 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm.
The Niro’s hybrid system consists of a 1.6-litre Kappa GDI in-line
four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 105 PS and 147 Nm of torque and an
electric motor that generates 44 PS and 170 Nm of torque.
The electric motor gets its juice from a
1.56 kWh Lithium-ion battery, and both sources (electric motor and combustion
engine) together produce 141 PS. Power is sent to the wheels via a 6-speed
dual-clutch transmission.
The performance figures and fuel economy
are yet to be announced, but Kia is targeting a CO2 emissions rating of 89 g/km
in the European test cycle. The Kia Niro is manufactured in Hwasung, South
Korea. It will go on sale in Europe in Q3 2016 and sometime later this year in
China.