While reading this article, I noticed some pretty impressive specifications and technical informations about Kia Borrego, including the claim of V8 engine producing 333hp!! Don’t know if this is true, but looks like Borrego just joined the club of 300+ horsepower cars.

The article:

Visiting any automotive research and development facility is worth the time and effort — the off chance of catching a glimpse of something special makes even the most arduous trip worthwhile.

A day at Hyundai Kia Automotive Group’s Namyang facility in Korea provided quite an insight. Along with a number of heavily camouflaged cars (notably the next-generation Tiburon sports coupe complete with what sounded like a V8 engine — sadly, the eight was emphatically denied by Hyundai personnel) were two very different cars up for driving — a Chevy TrailBlazer-sized, seven-seat SUV and a subcompact hybrid.

The SUV will make its world debut at Detroit ‘s 2008 North American International Auto Show in January. The Kia Borrego is a full-bodied, body-on-frame truck with three legitimate rows of seats; the third row proves to be surprisingly accommodating. When it lands in mid-2008, it will be offered with two powertrains. The base vehicle comes with a punchy, 260-horsepower, 3.8-litre V6 that’s married to a five-speed automatic. The unit of interest, however, is a direct-injection, 4.6L V8 that’s teamed with a six-speed manumatic.

This thing is not shy when the loud pedal is punched. With 333 hp and 322 pound-feet of torque on tap, it managed to haul four riders from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 7.5 seconds.

There will be two four-wheel-drive systems offered. The base system, unfortunately, is of the part-time variety. Its up-level counterpart adds the needed automatic set-and-forget mode to the 4-High and 4-Low settings. Even on a cold and wet skid pad, it managed to put the V8′s power to the pavement with very little wheelspin. What spin did show up (at initial launch) was quickly dealt with by the electronic stability/traction control system.

As for equipment, it depends upon which version arrives in North America. In Korea, the Borrego is aimed at Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, so the domestic version comes with everything from a backup camera and keyless ignition to full leather and power everything, including tilt/telescopic steering and adjustable pedals. The Canadian version will probably skate the price/content line to maintain the cost advantage Kia’s products enjoy over its mainstream competition.

The other drive involved the 2007 Kia Rio Hybrid. It is powered by an 88-hp, 1.4L twin-cam, gasoline-powered engine and an electric motor that chips in with another 16 hp. It follows Honda’s lead in that it is a mild hybrid. In this case, the electric motor is sandwiched between the engine and the continuously variable transmission (CVT).

This layout allows the electric side to boost the engine’s performance and capture waste energy under braking. The regenerative side means the Rio does not need to be plugged in, which means there’s no strain on the hydroelectric grid. The downside is that the electric side cannot drive the vehicle. By 2009, 3,390 Rio Hybrids will be in service with Korea’s Ministry of the Environment.

The Rio Hybrid produces some impressive numbers. It runs to 100 km/h from rest in 12.2 seconds and has a top speed of 176 km/h. It also returns a fuel consumption rating of 5.0 litres per 100 km. This fuel efficiency is up almost 50% — and emissions are down 37% — when compared with the regular gas-powered Rio.

Aside from the obvious fuel savings and performance delivered by the electric side, there are other important factors contributing to the Rio’s enthusiastic driving demean-our. This is Kia’s first use of a CVT. By using the full effects of the transmission, the engine is allowed to operate at its optimum for more of its driving life. It also features a stop/start mode, which shuts off the engine whenever the car comes to a standstill for more than a few seconds and then brings it back to life when the driver lifts off the brake. In operation, it is fast enough that the engine is ready to go before the driver moves from the brake to the gas pedal.

The hybrid also takes weight to heart. Using an aluminum hood, deck lid and seat frames, lightweight wheels and electric power steering shaves a massive 220 kilograms (23%) off the curb weight when compared with its regular gasoline counterpart.

On paper, the powertrain’s numbers do not look overly impressive. However, when driven, the Rio Hybrid has a surprising turn of speed, especially in the low and mid ranges. It pulls strongly from rest and builds steadily by using the CVT to get the best from both the gasoline and electric sides — enough, in fact, that some torque steer turned up on the skid pad (the low-rolling-resistance tires used on most hybrids do not like cold weather).

There is a tendency to take Kia lightly because the company is known more for its pricing than its technical prowess. The Borrego and Rio Hybrid cast a different light on the company. Both are advanced and destined to do good things for the auto-maker’s image.

[Source: National Post, Canada]

By: Graeme Fletcher