Kia have applied the plug-in hybrid treatment to the
Niro, which debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The PHEV model
will go on sale across Europe during Q3, at a yet undisclosed price, and will
join the Niro Hybrid within the lineup, as well as a possible EV version that
could launch later on, it.
It pairs a 1.6-liter GDI direct-injected petrol
engine with an 8.9 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, which has a higher
capacity compared to the 1.56 kWh battery pack found on the Niro Hybrid. It
provides juice to a more powerful 44.5 kW (61 PS/60 HP) electric motor,
contributing to a total output of 141 PS and 265 Nm of
torque.
Power is sent to the wheels through a six-speed
dual-clutch automatic transmission, and in this flavor, the vehicle needs 10.8
seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, a 0.7sec improvement over
the standard Niro, while emitting below 30 g/km of CO2, in the NEDC. Moreover,
its pure-electric driving range is said to stand at more than 55 km.
Some of the technology that equips the new Niro PHEV
includes regenerative braking, and the Eco Driving Assistant System (Eco DAS),
which provides drivers with guidance on how to drive more efficiently. The
latter comes with Coasting Guide Control (CGC) to alert whoever holds the wheel
when the best time to lift off the throttle is, allowing the battery to
regenerate under engine deceleration. Then there's Predictive Energy Control
(PEC), which works with the navigation and cruise control, and collects data to
determine when to recharge the battery pack, or when to store energy to the
wheels.
Adopting a plug-in hybrid powertrain is said to have
minimal effect on packaging and versatility, as the higher-capacity battery
pack is located beneath the floor boot and rear seat bench.
Kia have also performed a few exterior updates to
differentiate the Niro PHEV from the rest of the range, such as adding a new
satin chrome grille surround, special chrome brightwork with clean
metallic-blue finish, thin 'blades' in the front and rear bumpers, special
16-inch alloy wheels designed to reduce wind resistance, new full-LED
headlights, and 'Eco Plug-in' badging.
Inside, the vehicle features single-tone black
leather upholstery, or two-tone light grey and black leather, blue stitching,
blue surround for the air vents on the dashboard, a new 7.0-inch full-TFT
driver instrument cluster, and the latest 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment.
Other equipment includes navigation, smartphone integration, smartphone
wireless charger, weather forecasts, and a JBL premium sound system.
Safety-wise, the Niro PHEV comes with vehicle
stability management, electronic stability control, autonomous emergency
braking with forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, driver
attention warning, smart cruise control, blind spot warning, and rear
cross-traffic collision warning.
