Kia is continuing with plans to significantly increase the number of green cars in its future lineup.
The Korean automaker and its parent, Hyundai, together hope to become the second-biggest seller of green cars worldwide, after Toyota.
That means more hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric cars, and even some hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
By 2020, Kia will have 14 green models in its global lineup, European boss Michael Cole said in a recent interview with the British magazine Autocar.
That total will include new variants of existing models, such as a hybrid version of the Kia Optima station wagon sold in Europe, and a plug-in hybrid version of the Niro hybrid utility vehicle.
Kia doesn't sell Optima wagons in the U.S., but we already get both hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Optima mid-size sedan.
Its hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains are lifted from the Hyundai Sonata, which shares a platform with the Optima.
Unveiled in February at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, the Niro is Kia's first dedicated hybrid model.
Kia calls it a crossover, but the Niro's styling is somewhere between wagon and SUV, and it will launch with only front-wheel drive available.
The Soul EV will likely continue as Kia's only battery-electric model for the time being.
This electric version of the funky compact Soul is only sold at certain dealers in a handful of U.S. states deemed by Kia to be sufficiently electric-car-friendly.
European boss Cole also said Kia will launch its first production hydrogen fuel-cell car "around 2020."
This new model would likely use the second-generation fuel-cell power-train being developed for parent Hyundai's next hydrogen model.
The next fuel-cell Hyundai is expected to roll out in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which are to be held in South Korea.
A Kia variant would likely follow, though little else is known about it at this point.
Hyundai has hinted that its next fuel-cell vehicle will be another crossover, replacing the current Tucson Fuel Cell.
Kia may follow Hyundai's lead and offer a fuel-cell crossover as well, but no details about the model have been confirmed.
Meanwhile, the launch of the Hyundai Ioniq hatchback with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric powertrains will likely go a long way toward meeting Hyundai/Kia's ambitious green-car goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment