Kia Ray plug-in hybrid concept set to be displayed at the 2010 Chicago auto show!
By releasing a teaser image to the world-wide-web sphere, Kia Motors America revealed it is going to unveil a brand-new concept car at the forth-coming 2010 Chicago auto show next month.
The Ray concept car was designed at Kia’s state-of-the-art Design Center in America and clearly demonstrates the next step in Kia’s fast progressing design evolution. Not much is known about the vehicle at this point, but is said that this oncept car also previews the automaker’s highly advanced and eco-friendly drivetrain technology.
According to Kia, the Ray concept car sits upon a plug-in hybrid drive platform and showcases the direction Kia is considering for its future plug-in hybrid vehicle.
To find more information about the concept, we will have to wait until the opening day of this year’s Chicago auto show, which kicks off on February 10th.
Kia Ray concept car gallery:
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January 21st, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Im not a fan of it right now, but the Hyundai Blue Will has grown on me over time. They just need to change the grille, and its ready to go. Maybe this will have the same effect.
January 21st, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I think Hybrid are the way to go ~~ i would like to see the Kia Soul Hybrid and some small pickup trucks as Hybrid also
January 21st, 2010 at 5:49 pm
WOW !!!!!!!!!!!! WHATA>>> CAR mmmm not bad to be in production (xexe)
January 21st, 2010 at 5:56 pm
“Welcome to the future”
January 21st, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Nearly every manufacturer worldwide shows up with some hybrid or 0-pollution show car on these days !
It seems to me they have all very busy marketing departments !
There are only a few questions to solve, and not the least important ones :
- at what date will these cars be available on the market ?
- at what price will these cars be sold, and with or without battery-pack ?
- what should be the real impact on emissions (including production) ?
Despite of all this, I am looking forward to the Future, but won’t buy these hybrids before let’s say… some time ;o)))
January 21st, 2010 at 6:29 pm
….I still think very efficient diesel engines are better value for mony, Ford’s eco version oof the UK Fiesta - out now - can do 76.3mpg and emits only 98g/km of CO2…not far off a Prius at all (and better than the last generation one). Oh and it’s much cheaper than a hybrid…Volkswagen’s new Polo Bluemotion is also another great one….wake up America…diesel is a much cheaper way forward..please (for your own sake’s) catch up with the rest of the world LOL
January 21st, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Great concept though…looks fab!! =D
January 21st, 2010 at 9:09 pm
This is huge, becuase this will showcase Kia’s lithium polymer battery technology. Move over Volt, Kia is coming to town.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:33 am
Wow, I knew Kia was serious about being top 5 but I never knew they would arrive with a direct Chevy Volt rival. Amazing who would have known all this started from making bicycle parts.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:41 am
The main question in my head right now is: How far behind GM is Kia at the moment (plug-in hybrid car development)? As you know, GM Volt is ready for production and should be in the showrooms within a few months. On the other hand, Kia is only showing its very first plug-in hybrid concept car, which could mean that the vehicle is only in its early phase of development and will probably not hit the showroom floor for at least two years.
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Any thoughts on that?
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:04 am
On the Optima’s back window caught on spy shots, you should see that same U like appearance that makes up the outline of the rear window. Just like this teaser. My guess is this could be the CH in concept form. I don’t think it’s the Optima since the C pillar appears different. I was just was noticing the simularities in the rear windows. I like how Kia want let us know if this is a sedan but I think I can make out the B pillar. Hahahahah I feel sorry for the chevy Volt?
Oh yeah, because I purchased the Kia Forte, Kia mailed me a magazine. It states from the magazine, that Kia plans on arriving with a midsize sedan hybrid. This could be that car in concept form.
January 22nd, 2010 at 3:21 am
hybrids are just a stepping stone to fuel cell tech.
January 22nd, 2010 at 4:24 am
Little do you guys know, this plug in car is built off of the Optima/Sonata platform, and will be marketed as the Optima plug-in. Kia wants a LAIAS launch for this, really bad. Next November this car will be being produced at West point. Next November the Volt goes on sale. Kia wants GM’s pie, and I hope they can steal it.
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 am
Maybe it is the Optima then. All I know is Kia will arrive with a midsize hybrid sedan sometime in 2011.
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 am
himi Says:
“As you know, GM Volt is ready for production and should be in the showrooms within a few months. ”
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plug-in hybrid car market is still niche.
the only ‘early adoptor’ consumers buy a chevy volt.
Possibly, 1st generation plug-in hybrid remain as show car, like 1st generation toyota prious did.
Kia better ready for ‘2nd’ generation plug-in hybrid.
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 am
Nah it will probably be like Blue Will, based off Sonata Archetecture and be a stand alone model.
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:41 am
Its just sad that this is not getting 2 Billion comments like the K9 sedan.
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:53 am
Currently, eco-friendly hybrid car market is still niche.
Only 5% buyers buy hybrid car.
electronic car market share is almost 0%.
It is a still niche market.
Kia better ready for ‘next’ generation plug-in hybrid.
January 22nd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
That is why not only gas/electric hybrid will be available, but also a plug in hybrid. This increases overall market share for Kia.
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:41 pm
I see four doors, and the D-pillar similar to the optima in the spy shots. its also got the skylight.
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Ohhhhh don’t worry Hyundai Smokre sure it doesn’t have 350 commets like the K9 sketch was but don’t worry it’ll get its fame. Besides, another thought just came to me. I think Sorento Owner has good eyes. You remember how they (not sure if male or female) were saying they don’t like the face of this it looks like the Opitma? Well if you compare the Optima’s face from spy shots to that so called K9 sketch they look very simular. My guess is what if the face of the Ray concept looks like this? What if that really was the Optima’s face we saw on the sketch. Afterall, Kia never confirmed about that sketch being the K9 people just asumed it. And besides this so called RWD car isn’t going to arrive until 2012 or something. The Optima is right around the corner. For all we know the status of the CH right now could just a shared platform with no true character yet.
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Another thought just came to me. The K9 sketch only shows it’s face we don’t know what the body looks like. This sketch only shows the body we don’t know what the face looks like. I’m begining to think that isn’t the K9 but the K5 we saw. That new Optima currently on spy shots. It all makes sense.
January 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Plug in hybrid… that ain’t making any sense! If it’s a good plug-in it don’t need to be hybrid!
January 22nd, 2010 at 11:35 pm
I also want to remind everyone of JonathanLgardner’s post…
eg. the New Polo Bluemotion has a CO emission of 87! I believe that is even below any “ugbrid” on the market today!
I really don’t understand why so many Americans want to deprive themselves of good diesel engines!
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:46 am
Even though bornloser our diesel emissions are more strict than Europe, most Americans believe that diesels are smokey and loud. Which is now farther from the truth.
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:58 am
Smokey and loud… ain’t that exactely what we think’bout (american) V8’s (OK I admit… I’d rather have the loud sexy sound of any (old) V8 over the (quiet) sound of a (modern) diesel…
Personally I think diesel is the only future the ‘ol combustion engine has (who has won the last editionS of the 24H… Which 24H? There is only one: LE MANS!)
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:08 am
Greg, are you talking about 2010 November for Optima in West Point Ga USA plant? I know they are getting the Hyundai Sante Fe this June with a added second shift.
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:09 am
I know that the next generation Optima will be produced at West Point. When the Santa Fe line leaves Alabama, what will they build there?
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:46 am
I was reading 2011, but if you know if it is this year that would be great for Kia in USA.
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:48 am
Elantra will be built at Hyundai in Alabama this year.
January 25th, 2010 at 3:48 am
16 more days until we see the Ray Concept
January 25th, 2010 at 4:01 am
so that means Forte should be, too, right? each plant has three assembly lines
Georgia: Sorento, Santa Fe, Optima
Alabama: Sonata, Elantra, ?????
January 25th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Greg that means Forte will be built in Alabama as well. However, I still the New Canada Plat will be an Elantra Plant, but we’ll see. Since they want to move Accent and Rio I think the Canadians would do a good job building them, so I want them in the Canada plant rather than Mexico.
January 25th, 2010 at 9:16 am
A mexico plant is the worst possible thing ANY company could ever do. It is like saying, “Let’s build a plant that will instantly make our quality ratings go down.” HKAG doesn’t need that. Canadians seem more competent.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I think they wanted to do it, but I think as they hear the complaints from customers worried about their B platform quality they backed off from it.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Yes a car built in Mexico is the worst. Why you think the Sebring/Avenger are the worst cars in the midsize class. The Sebring 2 door is one of the worst cars in the world.
January 25th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Funny, I was thinking more along the lines of ford fusion, but chryslers, too. Not to mention the Aztek/Rendezvous.
January 26th, 2010 at 9:07 am
US consumers dislike Mexico.
so, they hate ‘made in mexico’ cars.
Hyundai/Kia should reconsider mexico plant.
They must know this before build mexico plant.
Korean does not know what is the US-Mexico relation is…
January 26th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Sorrento, when any Company builds a car in Mexico the quality drops badly. You can take good car like Accent and absoluely destroy it, by building it in Mexico. Id rather pay $2000 more to get a good quality Accent, than save money and get a POS.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Nissan Versa=Shit reliability=Built in Mexico. Ford Focus=Shit reliability=Built in Mexico.
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Ford Fiesta will have shii reliability since that will be built in Mexico too.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
15 more days until we see the Kia Ray Concept. So do you guys think it’s already at the auto show in a dark room underneath a blanket? Or do you guys think it is still in California inside an 18 wheeler truck prepared to come to Chicago? What color do you guys think it is? Do you guys think it will arrive in black like this teaser? How much horsepower will it have? What will it look like on photo? Do you guys think it’ll be big like the ugly Volt or a little smaller? How do you guys think the set will be. We do know one thing, it will have the signature grille and the headlights. It will be groundbreaking. How loog do you guys think it took to make this? I can’t wait until the 10 of Feb. Hurry it up. A Kia 4 door coupe.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
It’s still gott to be a California I mean they have to give it a good wash to make it really shine. I’m sure they have to wax the tires extra too. What kind of tires you think it’ll have Good Year?
January 26th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
It would really thrill me if this Kia Ray can have a higher mpg than that Volt GM keeps braging about. I hope it has more leg room and is faster. I hope it has more luxury and looks better. I hope it can get from 0 to 60 faster too. I hope it’ll be cheaper and better. I hope this is production ready too. If it’s the Optima so be it but this better be producton ready. I also want to know if it’s fwd or rwd. There is no info yet. We can assume its the Optima but with if it’s not. What if it’s an all new Kia? It could be the Optima or the CH or whetever else. I know one thing though the C pillars are not the same as the next Optima. If you look at the Optima from behind, it looks more like a Saturn Ion (like how the Ion look like the Rio). This pillar appears totally different.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
The only simularties between the next Optima and this Ray is the rear window with the N or U like shape. The C pillar on the Optima has a much more higher flare simialar to the Rondo, Venga or Borrego. This doesn’t have that whatever you call it. Like the Optima that C pillar is also found on the Pontiac Grand Prix, Dodge Charger and Avenger and if I’m not mistaken it’s also found on some Saabs. So if Kia copied what does that make the others? Watch once the next Optima is revaled, people will say “TheY copied the Grand Prix or Dodge charger” even though the Grand Prix came out before the Charger too. Besides, from what I can see, the Optima’s C pillar looks better than the now deseased Grand Prix and the Charger. The next Charger’s greenhouse looks like a mixture of the Acura TL or 2010 LaCross’s. This Ray Concept’s C pillar is totally different especially viewing it from the rear.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
And lastly, now that we seen the tailight of the next optima, the back doesn’t look anything like the Kia Ray concept. So it must be another sedan. However, since we do not know if this is fwd or rwd, we can’t assume this is the CH neither at least not until we know if it’s rwd.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Is it possible that Kia used the next Optima’s hybrid technology on a 4wd sedan?
January 27th, 2010 at 1:54 am
A bit of breaking news, Toyota just told dealerships to STOP SELLING ten different models. Toyota doesn’t know what to do, but ten models?? That’s gotta hurt.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:28 am
Good. More marketshare for Hyundai/Kia.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:58 am
I think that’s SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!! Greg.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Also Toyota will stop production of those models on Feb 1 until problem is fixed.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
12 more days until we see the Kia Ray Concept.
January 30th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Hey Guys,
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More News about Japanese Jalloppis.
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Honda is recalling 646,000 of it’s Fit/Citty/Jazz Subcompacts Worldwide to fix a defective master switch that causes water to leak into the power window swtich that has been known to cause vehicle fires, one of them responsible for killing a toddler in Great Britain. 140,000 of those Fits are American.
January 30th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
More market share available for Hyundai/ Kia, but GM is the one kicking Toyota. I saw a news video of a local dealer talking about a $1000 incentive GM is offering toward the purchase of any of their (new?) vehicles when you bring in any Toyota from 1999 to current models.
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Diesel is the way to go, but KMA and the other manufacturers in the USA are tunnel visioned into hybrid only. How about hybrids and diesels?!
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I’m hoping to make it to the Chicago show again this year, maybe getting to see this Ray in person.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
I just read of someone working on a hybrid diesel but unfortunately I think it was GM on one of their pick-em-up trucks. Yeah, diesel/hybrid would be a nice combo to propel some attractive cars for our future. Probably not allowed because of our air standards. Or something.
January 30th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
I’ll be in Chicago Feb. 11 - Feb 13. Hopefully I’ll have pictures aplenty.
January 30th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
PSA (Peugeot / Citroen) is the one bringing the diesel+hybrid with 140hp, to market this year. But atm it has a co2 output of 99g/km, which is more (=worse) than the current Prius…
I’d rather hope for the new Ray, or an updated Forte LPI Hybrid…
January 30th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Hybrid is America’s Diesel, and Diesels are Europe’s Hybrids. Gas Hybrid=not going to work in Europe, but if priced right, and feels right and gets great MPG will do great in the US. Diesel Hybrid=not even a possibility for the US market, but will do great in Europe.
January 31st, 2010 at 1:05 am
The hybrid car has no long term future… the real future is for the full time electrical motorcar. I honestly think the combustion engine (unfortunately) only has more or less 20 years left
January 31st, 2010 at 4:11 am
bornloser-yes, all-electrical propulsion is the future in automobile propulsion. I agree. But ICE vehicles won’t actually disappear for a long time, if ever completely. Don’t cha agree?
January 31st, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I was watching some show and some analyst said ICEs could be around until 2050. Guys,let me explain Further, Gas/Diesel Hybrids are stop gaps between ICEs and AEP. They arent the solution, just a tool to get us there,
January 31st, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Personally, I think Hydrogen is the future, but there are a lot of problems related to that.
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First, infrastructure. Where do you go to get hydrogen? I suppose that if hydrogen cars begin to get popular, hydrogen stations will pop up. It happened over 100 years ago with gasoline, it can happen again.
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Second, supply. We have to figure out how to get hydrogen more efficiently. Right now, it comes from natural gas primarily, a fossil fuel. I suppose that if we can’t get over this obstacle, we are right back where we started.
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Third, technology. We have to make hydrogen technology cheaper, smaller, and better. Kia is doing it, and doing it well from what I can tell. We will see a lot of “Unknown Kia” spyshots of Kia testing their hydrogen technology in all of their vehicles. How far is Kia going to get if they have hydrogen power in only one of their vehicles? About as far as Honda’s getting with the FCX Clarity.
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If hydrogen turns out to be no good, and we must rely on all-electrics; we can’t solve our problem with just all-electric vehicles. All electric vehicles will start plugging into home outlets, and increase out need for coal - another fossil fuel.
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Wind energy. If we have to go with all electric vehicles, let me make a suggestion. In my city, Manistee, MI, we manufacture a product called a Windspire. It is a vertical wind turbine that is 30 feet tall, and 4 feet wide. It produces 2000 kilowatt hours per year - enough to charge a vehicle. These Windspires are made of 69% recycled material, and generally cost $5,500 to $6,500 for everything. Everything includes the Windspire, the installation, permits, and installation to the local grid. If manufacturers sold a Windspire with every all-electric car, all-electric could work. I will post a link below. It may take a bit for himi to publish my post with a link to the blog, that’s why I’m not putting it in this post
February 1st, 2010 at 2:17 am
Greg, I’m all mouse, eyes and ears. I want to make this conservation deal work, not make things worse. I’m willing to try some new things, but just continuing to build ICE vehicles for the next 50 years is not gonna cut it.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Bryan, I honestly hope you’re right that ICE will be along for a long time… Even if it was only ’bout the sound a nice V6 or V8 makes… I really can’t imagine a muscle car (or an Italian full bred) with an electrical engine…
February 1st, 2010 at 9:43 pm
bornloser…I never globbed on ta the Detroit full-on V8 muscle-car loud engine exhaust excitement bandwagon too much. Headers and cherry bomb mufflers and all. I’m now and have been for a long time fully in to the finely detailed Japanese and Korean cars and all of their exactness and, well…quietness. I am starting to dig the new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi midsize, and as of now Suzuki only builds them with 4-cyl 180hp engines, and yes, they’re built internal combustion. Fine by me with all of that. So, I say I want an all-electrical rig for my next car-yet now I’m defying that by falling for ICE cars of different flavors. This Kizashi does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds with the standard 6-speed tranny and I like it’s Jetta-like exterior. The one I like, the GTS, comes in at $23,334 MSRP and is being classified as a midsize car. Now, is Suzuki gonna be around ta service this pup, though? Suzuki gives a 7 year, 100,000 miles limited powertrain Warranty. I do this every so many months, I get all stoked about a certain rig. Probly won’t really pursue the Suzuki Kizashi…right now, anyway. =:)
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 am
A Rio 3 door based on the Kee would be the best thing ever for that car. THAT WOULD BE SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
The more I think about it, the more I think that’s the kind of energy and excitement the Rio needs.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:42 pm
HyundaiSmoke, don’t you find it quite strange that all the models (including Hyundai) that share the Rio’s platform is either on sale or been caught on spy shots eccept the Rio itself?
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:37 pm
7398 MY2011 Sorento sales in January. That is astonishing. That is more than 2x all of the other vehicles, except the Forte - but it came close. I would be excited, but the initial shock is still overcoming me.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:57 am
I do jtz, its very strange
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:28 am
New Sportage shots are out!
Looks..hmm… sporty ^^