Kia’s presence at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show is
highlighted by several premieres, most of which are limited to the Chinese
market. One of them is the new YI PAO B-segment SUV, whose name translates into
‘One Shot’. Developed “to appeal to the needs of younger buyers”, it’s
basically a rebadged Stonic with “numerous high-tech convenience and safety
features”, says Kia.
These are the only details released about
it at the time of writing. However, the automaker will open the order books for
it locally in the second half of the year, and will likely drop an extensive
image gallery, alongside the spec sheet, in the coming months.
The facelifted Kia K5, known as the Optima
in western markets, is also present at the automotive event. The sedan uses a
new plug-in hybrid powertrain, which combines the 2.0-liter GDI engine, rated
at 156 PS and 189 Nm of torque, with a 50kW (68 PS)
electric motor.
The assembly is backed up by a lithium-polymer
battery pack, which allows it to travel in electric mode for an undisclosed
number of kilometers. Kia will start producing the new K5 Plug-in Hybrid in the
following weeks, before launching it locally later this year.
Said to have been “tailored to the Chinese market”,
the Kia Sportage is on display in Beijing as well. It’s equipped with new
features, such as the Baidu connectivity system, Driver Attention Warning, Lane
Keeping Assistant and Forward Collision-avoidance Assist.
