Kia Venga EV concept car made its world premiere at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Kia Venga EV concept car is a full-time electric vehicle based on a B-segment Venga mini-MPV, which has been on sale across Europe since January this year. By its looks, the Venga EV concept does not differ from production vehicle. The model features identical exterior and interior design lay-out.

What sets the Venga EV concept vehicle from a production model is placed under the hood and that is an electric motor, which generates 80 kW of raw power and 280Nm of maximum torque. The front wheel-drive concept car also features a twin-pack 24kWh Lithium Ion Polymer battery pack placed under the boot floor, which enables the vehicle to drive 112 miles on a single charge!

Under the quick recharging cycle (50 kW) the battery can be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity within 20 minutes. Under the normal cycle (3.3 kW), 100 percent power is attained after eight hours.

The latest concept car from Kia is not a sports car, but it provides decent performance. According to Kia, the Venga EV is capable of accelerating from standstill to 62 mph in 11.8 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 87 miles per hour.

Kia says that Venga EV concept car represents brand’s continuing commitment to earth-friendly research and development and marks an additional dimension in the company’s development of eco-friendly vehicles.

Kia Venga EV concept car gallery:

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:

Kia cee’d hybrid receives new powertrain technology and new front fascia design.  

Yesterday, you could have seen first hybrid concept car out of three that are being displayed at this year’s Kia’s booth in Frankfurt. And now it’s time to look at the second one. Alongside Sorento diesel-electric hybrid stands a white-painted cee’d hatchback, covered with green flowing stickers on its doors.

Developed at Kia’s European R&D centre, the cee’d hybrid is a follow-up model of the initial cee’d hybrid model, which has been shown for the first time at the Paris Auto Show last year. Since we have last seen it a few months ago, the new cee’d hybrid adopted new front fascia and received upgraded powertrain technology.

The heart and soul of Kia cee’d hybrid concept car shown in Frankfurt is a four-cylinder 1.6L engine. It is very similar to the one used in Forte Lpi hybrid, but it is powered by gasoline, rather than liquefied petroleum gas.

The engine, which belongs to Kia’s “Gamma” engine family, is paired with Kia’s own developed continuously variable - CVT transmission and 20-horsepower electric motor. The high-torque electric motor has a maximum torque of 105 Nm from just 1500 rpm.

According to Kia, new cee’d hybrid reaches a top speed of 185 km/h and accelerates from 0-to-100 kmh in just 11.8 seconds. CO2 emissions of the hybrid model have been lowered by 25 percent, to only 96grams per kilometer, when compared to standard cee’d.

Kia Sorento diesel electric hybrid features dual clutch transmission and  a163-horsepower diesel engine.

At the on-going Frankfurt Auto Show, Kia exhibits a wide range of eco-friendly concept cars and production vehicles. Some of those cars are already well known to all of you Kia fans, while other are improved or brand new vehicles. We are going to dedicate a few minutes to each one of them to take a look at their technology, specs and other facts.

One of the most impressive ones among all is a diesel-hybrid Sorento, which features advanced powertrain technologies that will be applied to Kia vehicles in the following years.

Sorento hybrid is Kia’s first-ever diesel-electric hybrid. Under its atractively shapped sheetmetal, it features Kia’s latest hybrid powertrain technology. At its heart is Kia’s 1.6L U2 turbo-diesel engine, which can be found in the Soul crossover, new Kia Venga and cee’d facelift.

The 1.6L U2 engine in Sorento hybrid is a follow-up engine to the current 1.6L U2 diesel unit. It features a two-stage turbocharger instead of the current VGT-turbo technology and generates impressive 163 horsepower.

The 163-hp diesel engine in Sorento hybrid is mated to Kia’s all-new dual-clutch transmission and a 40 horsepower electric motor. The innovative “Integrated package module” located in the trunk under the floor, combines Lithium Ion Polymer Batteries with an Inverter and Converter.

By use of lightwieght materials and extreme engine downsizing, the weight of a concept car has been reduced by 100 kg or 8 percent when compared to the 2010 Sorento crossover while aerodynamic tweaks, such as airflow-smoothing under floor panels, a set of aerodynamic alloy-wheels, rear-window spoiler, lower suspension (-25 mm) and narrower tyres have helped reducing Sorento’s drag coefficient.

The final result of all these aerodynamic tweaks and technical enhancements are reduced C02 emissions which were lowered b 30 percent to just 119 g/km  when compared to the 2010 Sorento. This is a truly remarkable achievement for such a large vehicle!

Kia did not reveal if it has a production of Kia Sorento hybrid in plans but it did announce that the model is now entering a testing phase and will be driven over many thousands of kilometres across the European continent to generate data for inclusion in the design process of Kia hybrid vehicles during the next couple of years.

Kia Sorento diesel-electric hybrid gallery:

The highly acclaimed open-air Soulster concept car, which has been unveiled to the public by Kia Motors America during the 2009 North American International Auto Show, has received the 2009 Concept Truck of the Year award!

The North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards awarded concept cars in four different categories: Concept Cars, Concept Truck, Specialty Concept Vehicle and Production Preview Vehicle. This year, a jury of automotive journos selected the concept car winners from 23 concept vehicles and 11 production preview vehicles that debuted during the 2009 North American Auto Show season.

Honored for its beach-ready prowess and attractive design, the Soulster has been awarded the 2009 Concept Truck of the year, making it the first concept car produced by Kia that received the highly coveted Concept Vehicle of the Year Award.

“It is an honor for the Soulster to be named Concept Truck of the Year, and further proof that Kia’s global commitment to design is dramatically altering the brand’s image and consumer’s opinion of our company and our vehicles.” told Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America in the official statement.

In the Concept Car category the award was given to Volkswagen’s BlueSport Roadster, while Cadillac Converj and Karma Sunset concepts took awards in the Specialty Concept Vehicle and Production Preview Vehicle categories.

About Kia Soulster concept

A two-door concept with roadster roots, the brightly colored Soul’r yellow Soul’ster projects a hip industrial look with screw borders, reminiscent of a rivet design found on a fighter jet. The windshield is shortened for a sportier and hunkered down appearance.

A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas independently, using elbow-grease technology. The roll bar serves a dual purpose and includes a place for the slider tracks, while providing protection not found in traditional convertibles.   

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It was previously thought that Kia Motors unveiled a production-ready Soul hybrid at Shanghai Auto Show, but soon after the wraps were taken off it became clear that the company has brought the same concept version to China as it was displayed at Paris Auto Show last year.

Visually, the Soul hybrid concept does not differ much from a production model. As a matter of fact, the sole difference that one can find is the transparent bonnet which allows auto-show-visitor to take a sneak peak preview at Kia’s advanced hybrid powertrain, that could soon become a production reality and could be applied to some of the compact and sub-compact Kia cars.

Inside the cabin, the Soul hybrid concept differentiates by having a digital circular dials and an orange-black two tone interior combination. The rest has been kept unchanged.

The Soul hybrid is powered by 1.6L gasoline engine coupled to 20 hp electric motor and CVT transmission. According to Kia, it returns an average fuel consumption of 4.9L/100km or 48MPG - US and brings carbon dioxide emissions down by 26 percent to just 117 g/km.

Kia Soul hybrid also features an innovative Idle-Stop-Go (ISG) system that automatically switches the engine off -when the car is stopped in a heavy traffic- and on again when the traffic moves. The ISG technology has just recently been applied to the cee’d hatchback and is already on sale in Europe. [Image source: Auto.Sohu.com ]

Kia has taken the wraps off it’s latest concept at the Seoul Auto Show today. The VG concept presents the new direction of design that reflects the style of the upcoming near-luxury Kia sedan, which is scheduled to go on sale in Korean market in September this year.

Designed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, the VG concept sports an elegant, yet sporty exterior design. Front VG fascia features Kia’s latest family-look and a radiator grille based on a symbolic representation of a tiger’s roaring countenance. It’s refined side profile reveals a strong side character line ending at striking rear lights equipped with latest LED technology.

The 4,945mm long concept car is sitting on 20-inch large-diameter alloy wheels and is equipped with the panorama sunroof, which extends seamlessly from the front windshield to contribute to its open and sleek facade.

The Kia VG concept is a front drive vehicle, outfitted with a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine and produces 277 horsepower. The gasoline powered powerplant is mated to the six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.

The VG show car is a near-production concept vehicle, that will go into production later in the year. Initially, the car will only be available in South Korea, but plans to expand it’s sales to international markets, including US, where it will be replacing the aging Amanti sedan.

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Kia No3 concept officially unveiled in Geneva

A stunning Kia concept car, named simply the No3, has been unveiled at Geneva Motor Show today. Following Kia’s latest design language, the No3 concept car combines attractive exterior design full of dynamic surfaces and attractive lines that Kia has been using lately to build it’s new brand identity.

The concept vehicle has been designed under the leadership of Kia’s head designer, Mr. Peter Schreyer, who has been responsible to give the range of Kia cars more distinctive look and the No3 concept represents the latest masterpiece of this initiative.

This new design language has already been implemented to several concept cars wearing a Kia badge and some design elements, such as characteristic signature grille, have already found a place on several production Kia models. Yet, the leaders of Kia Motors state there’s more to come in the very near future and we are certainly looking forward to that, don’t we!?

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Video preview: Kia No3 concept 

By now we have seen plenty of exciting pictures previewing the all-new No3 concept car from Kia Motors. What we haven’t seen so far were some video previews, that ussually come included in the official press packs. While browsing for some fresh new Geneva Auto Show, we came across the Kia No3 video which shows the No3 concept driving in the parking garage.

The No3 concept is scheduled to make it’s official public premiere today at Geneva Auto Show. The No3 concept car previews the forthcoming Kia MPV, which belongs to the fast growing B car-segment and is expected to go on sale later this year or early in 2010 (Kia has yet to provide more detailed information).

The No3 is based on the same platform as the 2010 Kia Soul, meaning it measures about the same in size as it’s sibling Kia Soul model. The concept is 4045 mm long, 1760 mm wide, 1600 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2615 mm. Compared to the Soul, No3’s wheelbase has been extended so it’s cabin provides even more generous passenger space.

Stylish Kia No3 incorporates the H-shaped front grille, known also as a new face of Kia. The Nor concept was penned at Kia’s European design center in Frankfurt and features a very unique extended windscreen, panoramic glass roof, beautiful set of 19-inch alloy wheels and Titanium Grey exterior color… Stay tuned for more information and images on this new striking Kia concept!

The all-new Kia No3 concept

Autoblog has published new images and additional information on Kia’s latest No3 mini-MPV concept that has been set to debut in Geneva tomorrow. Their No3 pack includes official press release and three new images previewing the No3 concept from behind, front and on the inside.

Official press release:

The all-new Kia No 3 Concept Car, which makes its world premiere at the 79th Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva today (Tuesday), redefines the small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) genre by creating a spacious, functional car that is also beautiful and fun-to-drive. The concept features a unique extended windscreen and panorama glass roof with a diagonal supporting bar, an automatic sun visor and the evolving ‘face of Kia’ which displays the front grille, head lamps and brand logo in a new constellation.

The 4045 mm long concept, which is finished in matte Titanium Grey with contrasting gloss-white accents, stands out from the crowd with its powerful proportions, dynamic lines, a modern, sophisticated interior and generous cabin space for flexible use. It delivers urban utility with a sporty touch.

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Kia No 3 Concept Car

In anticipation of next month’s Geneva Auto Show, Kia released three more images of it’s all-new mini-MPV concept car. Dubbed the Kia No3 concept, this all-new stunning show car from Kia Motors promises to be impressive looking and also fun-to-drive.

Penned by Kia’s European design team, under the leadership of design guru Peter Schreyer, the No3 concept features a new Kia family face and puts a H-shapped front grille, LED-technology equipped head-lamps and brand’s corporate logo in a new constellation.

The concept also features a panoramic glass roof extending up over the rear passangers with a diagonal supporting bar and an electric sun visor. Finished in matt Titanium Grey with contrasting gloss-white accents, the No3 measures 4045 mm long (13.27 ft) in length -ideal size for urban traffic- and also packs a set of funky looking 19-inch alloy-wheels.

Following the introduction of the production-ready model at the Frankfurt Show this September, the Kia YN will go on sale in Europe in early of 2010.

Kia will put it’s No3 concept on display at this year’s Geneva Auto Show alongside Kia cee’d ISG, cee’d hybrid and 18 other vehicles, including facelifted Optima/Magentis and Sportage. It’s world premiere is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd ( at 12.15 PM) at the Kia booth in hall 5. More images: Kia No3

Kia Soulster production considered

Kia unveiled the Soulster concept car as a design study at this year’s North American International Auto Show to demonstrate the flexibility of the original design. Like many other concept cars, the Soulster was not intended to be produced but the vehicle has seen such a remarkable public response that the automaker is now seriously considering to bring the two-door pickup truck into the mass production.

When speaking with Automotivenews, Mr. Alex Fedorak - Director of Public Relations at Kia Motors America- revealed the Soulster concept created plenty of buzz among 2009 NAIAS attendees and the public response was so overwhelming that the company has decided the Soulster needs a closer look. “It is clearly a vehicle that was built as a concept in a fashion that was production-capable. We have been doing that more and more lately.” said Alex.

The sun-loving open-air Soulster concept car has been built on the 2010 Kia Soul, which goes on sale in US market on March 1st. Kia’s compact pick-up ute is a front-wheel-drive vehicle powered by 1.6L four-cylinder engine and coupled with five-speed manual transmission. Since the Soulster has been built with the same powertrain technology as production ready Kia Soul, it can also be fitted with a more powerful 2.0L engine.

At this point, the Soulster concept vehicle has not yet been green lighted and also no time frame has been given for a decision for the production model, but once decision made, we could see the Soulster making it to the market within a year or two. [Photosource: Leftlanenews]

UPDATE: Since Kia has been considering to develope the Soulster, I think you could share some of your thoughts on the vehicle and perhaps suggest Kia something that you’d like to see on a production model.

You know, Kia bosses have been reading our blog and they might find some of your suggestions very useful!

Kia YN concept

As anticipated, Kia released the first teaser image of it’s forthcoming concept car which is slated to debut at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show at the beginning of March. The YN concept car belongs to the group of sub-compact mini-MPVs, a vehicle segment that has seen spurring sales in recent years particularly on European car market.

A stunning Kia YN concept vehicle was penned by a car-design guru Peter Schreyer and is expected to redefine the mini MPV segment by bringing style and cool to what is currently a bland segment of the new car market. According to Kia, the YN concept will feature a dramatic glass-roof treatment and will provide astounding spaciousness in a compact package.

The world premiere of Kia YN concept car will be taking place at the 2009 Salon de l’Automobile in Geneva (Switzerland) with the official press conference scheduled for 12.45pm. [Source: Kia] Find more information and spy shots on the 2010 Kia YN here.

One of the show stoppers at this year’s, still ongoing, Detroit auto show was most definitely the Soulster concept car from Kia Motors. The Soulster is a small-footprint, front-wheel drive truck, derived from Kia’s new 2010 Soul crossover.

With it’s simple, yet attractive exterior design, the Soulster reminds us of Suzuki Samurai equipped with soft-top, but in a much funkier package. Whether this exciting two-door concept car ever enters the US car market has not been announced, but the right amount of positive feedback could eventually bring it to production sometime in the near future.

Those of you who haven’t seen enough of the topless Soulster yet, here are two more videos from Detroit auto show.

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We are continuing our coverage from the Detroit Auto Show where Kia Soulster concept car made it’s official public debut yesterday.

Sleek, elegant and sporty, the Kia Soulster concept is a two-door vehicle with some roadster genes, designed especially to appeal to the younger crowds.

Spiced with some very unique design elements such as LED technology equipped lamps at rear and front fascias, side vents, circular door handles, side-mirror turn signals, LED accent lighting, dual chrome exhaust and polished aluminum exhaust tips featuring carbon-fibre and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, the Soulster features a beautiful and eye-catching design inside& out. It also incorporates a two-piece canvas top and a roll-bar, which includes a place for slider tracks.

There are no words out there yet, whether this cool looking Kia concept will ever make it to production. Vice president of sales at Kia Motors America, Tom Loveless, said Kia had not made any decisions on a production version as of now, but was studying the possibility.

Here’s the first video preview of the Soulster concept taken during it’s official unveiling at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. (Watch the video after the jump.) (more…)