Autoblog

Kia Soul EV to finally arrive in 2014

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EST

With the 2014 Soul still in the testing phase, it sounds like Kia is planning to add an all-electric variant to its quirky hatchback's lineup. There aren't any solid details about the Kia Soul EV, but Autocar is reporting that the Korean automaker has confirmed this information and test mules have already been spotted near the company's Russelsheim, Germany technical HQ.

Autocar states that the electric Soul will bow in 2014, marking the first EV for the South Korean automaker. Before that, though, the redesigned 2014 Kia Soul will likely make its debut early next year either at the Chicago or New York Auto Show.

From what we've been able to see of the next Soul, it will retain the same angled roofline but could receive a front and rear styling along the lines of what we saw on the Track'ster Concept. Recent spy shots also revealed that a totally revamped interior will make its way into the new Soul. Convertible and three-door GT models are also possibilities for the next-gen Soul.

Kia Soul EV to finally arrive in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Kia Ray is Korea's first production EV

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Technology, Hatchback, Kia, Electric, South Korea

Kia has unveiled the automaker's very first production electric vehicle. The Kia Ray EV will offer buyers a range of around 86 miles depending on driving conditions and will include a fast-charge option that should top off the cells in around 25 minutes. Otherwise, expect the 16.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to take around six hours to charge on a 220-volt circuit. A 50 kW electric motor provides power to the front wheels, which is good enough to get the EV to 62 mph in 15.9 seconds. That may seems slow by most standards, but its worth noting that the internal combustion Ray with its 1.0-liter gas engine makes due with significantly less torque.

Kia says that Ray EV boasts 123 pound-feet of torque, which is 77 percent more than the 1.0-liter machine. The boxy EV also uses a new type of regenerative braking system in which the electric motor generates boost for the hydraulic brake assist - just like on an internal combustion vehicle. The automaker says that the result is a linear brake that still manages to recuperate energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration. As wonky brake feel is one of our chief sticking points with all EVs, this comes as welcome news.

Kia will manufacture 2,500 Ray EVs for government agency use in Korea, so don't expect to be able to get your hands on one anytime soon. Click past the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading New Kia Ray is Korea's first production EV

New Kia Ray is Korea's first production EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia bringing EV to market this year

Zach Bowman — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hyundai, Kia, Electric, South Korea

Automotive News reports that Kia will launch a small electric vehicle by the end of this year, and that it will be the first car in a wave of forthcoming Korean EVs. It's not known if or when the new electric cars will eventually arrive in the U.S., though it would hardly be surprising if they did. Hyundai Motor Group calls this EV initiative the TAM project, and that the first vehicle to come out of it will ride on the subcompact Hyundai i10 platform.

All told, Automotive News says that Kia will produce 2,000EVs for 2012. A small group of BlueOn Hyundai i10 EVs has been ongoing in South Korea, and it's thought that the lessons learned will be applied to the upcoming Kia vehicle.

This is Hyundai's first real push into the electric vehicle segment. While Japanese and domestic automakers have already brought production EVs to market, Hyundai and Kia have contented themselves with offerings like the Sonata Hybrid and Optima Hybrid.

Kia bringing EV to market this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia vows to focus on quality over quantity

Zach Bowman — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Kia, South Korea

Automotive News is reporting that Kia has announced plans to focus its efforts on building quality products instead of expanding its current line to fill every niche or broadening its manufacturing capabilities. The company's co-CEO, Lee Sam-ung, said that Kia doesn't plan to build any new manufacturing facilities any time in the near future. That news came in the face of concerns that limited production capability may hinder future growth, but Sam-ung said that global demand for vehicles is expected to subside soon.

In order to remain competitive, Kia will launch new models, strengthen its local promotions and work to enhance the company's competitiveness, Sam-ung said while at the launch of the 2012 Rio. Meanwhile, the executive also indicated that Kia still intends to launch two new electric vehicles, one in 2014 and another in 2015.

Kia vows to focus on quality over quantity originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Electric CUV coming from Kia in 2013

Zach Bowman — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Crossover, Electric, South Korea

According to Reuters, Kia is looking to jump into the EV fight with an electrified CUV. Parent company Hyundai said that it's planning to turn out a total of 2,500 battery-operated vehicles by 2012. A total of 500 of those will be Hyundai BlueOn models, but the rest of the fleet will be made up of the new Kia-badged creation. The early fleet will be sold to Korean government agencies as a large-scale test, but commercial sales are supposed to start shortly thereafter. Reuters quotes Hong John-hee, the director of the company's electric vehicle development group, as saying that the cost of battery-electric vehicles will fall off much quicker than most analysts are anticipating.

Like the BlueOn, the CUV-based EV will store its power in an SK Energy battery pack, though there was no mention as to whether the cells would be lithium-ion or traditional nickel-metal hydride.

The electric crossover is likely to show up on the market in 2013 and will be capable of covering around 80 miles on a single charge. Both Hyundai and Kia are part of an effort by the Korean government to replace up to 20 percent of the nation's passenger vehicles with EVs by 2020.

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Electric CUV coming from Kia in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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