In a dramatic move aimed at delivering environmental benefits without expensive technology Kia has revealed its new Aero-Soul concept that reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions with a simple and low-cost system called Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line.
Although unveiled on the company’s stylish and fun cross-over Soul the patented system can be easily extended to all the company’s vehicles and will even be available as a bolt-on accessory for vehicles already in use.
The system relies on small sensors built into the front and rear bumpers which monitor external wind speed and deploy panels when the wind is sufficient to provide additional directional impetus according to the car’s behaviour.
So at cruising speeds if the wind behind the car is strong – such as in winter gales – the panels will harness wind power to provide forward motion. If the car is slowing or under braking the panels will deploy to provide additional retardation effort. Additionally a small electrically powered baffle can be lowered just behind the exhaust pipe under harsh braking to provide the kind of “reverse-thrust” normally associated with aircraft during landing – this element will only be available as a factory-fitted device.
Systems Manager Avril Babo at Kia’s Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, south of Seoul said: “The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn’t cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road.
“Tests of this system at our Nong Dam facility have shown that during windy weather fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent and emissions by anything up 40 per cent. Even in calm weather using the system simply under braking can result in reductions of 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. In perfect conditions – downhill with a following wind fuel use and exhaust gasses can be reduced to almost zero! Plus, brake-pad life can be extended by anything up to 50 per cent depending on driver behaviour, she added.
The new A.P.R.I.L. system will be available on all vehicles ordered after midnight on March 31, 2010 and the accessory pack will be available the following day. Prices will be announced in due course. [Source: Kia UK]
April 1st, 2009 at 10:10 am
I will definetely order one on april 1st 2010
April 1st, 2009 at 12:06 pm
lol… Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line… hmmm…
April 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pm
These figures need to be audited. A “sail” won’t help when the tailwind is a fraction of the forward speed of the car. Even more likely to fall are the claims for reduction of fuel consumptions during braking – no fuel is used during braking. Currently only hybrids recover that energy by using it to charge the battery. Simply giving us the diesel already in their demo cars from Korea would save more with a simple system used worldwide – why can’t the U.S. get the small diesels already common and saving fuel elsewhere?
Diesel or hybrids based on saving braking energy in batteries, compressed air tanks or flywheels are gadget free and ready for use.
And I might as well mention, Kia’s joining other automobile companies in not giving us the trailer towing capability available in Europe reduces the appeal of its Soul offering here. Are our cars of lower quality than Europe’s, are we such poor drivers, is Kia afraid of lawsuits, or does Kia join the U.S. big three in trying to force us to buy an SUV to tow a small trailer while it could offer a more efficient alternative already available elsewhere?
April 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pm
OK, you got me! See you next April
April 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Have you recognise the SOUL’s glovebox cover…
April 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Dean! you are so sharp. it is the glove box cover!
April 1st, 2009 at 3:56 pm
CliffD brings up good points about the Soul’s lack of equipment in the USA.
But cheers to Kia on this great A.P.R.I.L. system!
April 1st, 2009 at 6:36 pm
sooo. it WONT look like that, right?
April 1st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
obviously not. this is an april fools joke and the pix… sumone just fixed the soul’s glove box in the front and back
April 1st, 2009 at 9:19 pm
But this entry is great to solidify the fact that Tomato Red is still my favorite Soul color. =;)
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
is this a joke? if not a gust of wind could wreck the car.. this is really dumb joke if it is.. don’t need misinformation
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
JohnC,
Well, considering Avril is French for April and Babo is Korean slang for idiot or fool, what do you think?
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:10 am
Derrick G, maybe you are right Kia is a joke!
It’s a waste of time to read about all these concept cars that never make it the US. It’s just a big joke!
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:27 am
Uh, that is not a real concept. It is just a picture of the inside of Soul’s glovebox glued on to the front and back.