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Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid
The all-new Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid is aiming for 37g/km CO2 emissions and a range of 33 miles.
The Optima Plug-in Hybrid, Kia’s first such vehicle, has made its European premiere, before going on sale across Europe in Q4 2016. The new plug-in hybrid powertrain will be a key addition to Kia’s D-segment Optima line-up, as well as the company’s expanding portfolio of low emission vehicles.
The car is powered by a 9.8 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack paired with a 50 kW electric motor, allowing it to operate in pure-electric mode for more than 33 miles at speeds as high as 75 mph, placing the Optima Plug-in Hybrid among the leaders in the D-segment for pure-electric range. Kia’s development teams are targeting combined CO2 emissions of just 37 g/km, which will ensure a low total cost of ownership for private and fleet buyers alike.
The powertrain employs Kia’s efficient 2.0-litre ‘Nu’ four-cylinder GDI engine at its core, which on its own generates 156 PS and 189 Nm. The engine is coupled with the electric motor, which allows the car to operate in charge-sustaining mode once the battery runs out of charge. The powertrain’s total power output is 205 PS at 6,000 rpm, and, with the addition of electric power, torque output is 375 Nm (276 lb ft) from just 2,300 rpm.
The Optima Plug-in Hybrid adopts a range of enhancements designed to improve its aerodynamic efficiency, including reprofiled front and rear bumpers and an all-new active air flap grille, which reduces the drag coefficient to just 0.25 Cd (0.27 Cd for the Optima saloon).
There are also two key technologies to save and regenerate battery power – regenerative braking and an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, with a driver-only ventilation function to conserve energy. Available to European buyers later in 2016, a new Coasting Guide Control (CGC) function is also currently in development, allowing the car to anticipate road conditions to reduce energy use and harvest additional electrical power.
