After the pompous official unveiling, the upcoming Kia Forte LPI hybrid has been caught out in the open. Kia first introduced the Forte hybrid car at the 2009 Seoul Auto Show earlier this year and at the same time, the company also introduced it’s new eco-friendly sub-brand, called Eco-Dynamics.
The Eco Dynamics brand will find it’s place on new Kia vehicles with environmentally-pleasant technologies. Those include cars and crossovers equipped with ISG (Idle Stop and Go) systems, hybrid electric powertrains and fuel cell stacks. First to bear the Eco Dynamics logo will be the 2010 Kia Forte LPI hybrid.
Kia’s first ever mass produced hybrid car will be powered by a mild-hybrid system consisting of 1.6L LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injected) Gamma engine - producing a crop of 114-horsepower - and electric motor that generates additional 20 horsepower. Mated to the CVT transmission, the Forte LPI hybrid will average an estimated fuel economy of 4.7L/100km.
On the outside, the Forte LPI hybrid differentiates itself from it’s non-hybrid variant with radically redesigned front and rear fascias. In front, Forte hybrid features a slightly redesigned Kia corporate grille and a bumper with attractive fog lights design, while at rear, there are new LED technology equipped tail-lights, lip spoiler and a revamped rear bumper. Inside the Forte hybrid features a navigation display and a Super Vision instrument cluster for hybrid system data.
According to Kia, the Forte hybrid LPI will be the first hybrid car in the world to use a Lithium Polymer battery pack, which will be supplied by Korean LG Chem, the same company charged with supply the battery pack for the upcoming Chevy Volt. The Kia Forte LPI hybrid electric vehicle is scheduled to go on sale in South Korean market in August this year.
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June 6th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I am not a fan of the rear lights
June 6th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
It looks okay, I mean… It’s a electric hybrid. They had to make something different from the normal forte =D
June 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
i thought it’ll use lithium polymers. wasnt that what they were testing with LG?
June 6th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Out side of this- has anyone else driven the 6 speed SX Forte??
June 7th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Colby YES I have, its a Great Car.. I am looking forward to the Koup..I like the HO Blue Forte SX its a beautiful car and fun to drive.
June 7th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Not too fond of the styling but people like to get noticed for their efforts and if this is the way Kia thinks is right I guess we have no choice~ At least the technology is good.
June 8th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Bring it to Australia, we have LPG bowsers here…
June 8th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
this is great!! i mean how do u guys want them to make a hybrid.i love the tail lights,reflectors.the diffusers are awesome cuz ive never seen any on a sedan.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I like that spoiler…. is that offered on the standard forte?
June 9th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
The taillights are…rice…What else can be said? I would bet that the Forte’s designer, Peter Schreyer, doesn’t approve. Wheels look strange too, like there was something that went wrong in the casting process.
June 15th, 2009 at 12:30 am
This car looks like what it is-a test car. I’d be lying to y’all if I said I wasn’t interested in returning to Kia by trading in my ‘08 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS for one of these. I said interested-not dead set on it. Keep things straight in your mind. Just kidding. I’ll be waiting with baited breath for more info. on this beautiful new Kia motorcar.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Just read on Green Car Congress that Hyundai is taking pre-launch orders for their Elantra LPI hybrid… http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/06/lpi-hybrid-20090617.html#more (Green Car Congress is a good site for lots of information globally on improvements to vehicle technology).
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July 13th, 2009 at 8:10 am
WTF is wrong with auto manufacturers? Why the hell is it that every time something is branded ECO it has to be turned into a hideous, puke inducing vehicle.
Why the hell can’t KIA simply offer a hybrid Forte SX with sports suspension and the decent looks it already has?
I simply don’t get it.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Hello,
I’m French !
I hope you will sent this car en France soon !!!
I’m sure it will have une very big success !!
If you can inform me, when you
See you soon, in a KIA’s shop with the Kia Forte LPI hybrid
September 27th, 2009 at 9:45 am
The Forte is a NKAC car only. NKAC=North America, Korea, Austrailia, China.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:48 am
NKAC=North America, Korea, Australia, China have nearly the same driving tastes, Needs, and wants out of cars. Thats why we are usually considered almost the same market.
Australia and China gets some cars from the Euro lineup. China more so than Austrailia.
Euro Lineup=Rest of the World.
September 27th, 2009 at 9:53 am
India, Africa, and South America mostly get the Euro Lineup car, but they get a few NKAC cars as well. Accents are popular Globally, and Even though its an NKAC car it gets sold in many of the Euro Lineup countries.
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Maybe if you Euro Guys keep begging for the Forte at www.kia-buzz.com, where the Company people will get to see you begging for it, they might bring it over?
September 27th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Id suggest the NKAC Guys go over there beg for the Venga with me.