All-New Kia Niro Aims to Spice Up Eco-Vehicle Market

CHICAGO – Kia’s ’17 Niro unveiled here is built from scratch as a hybrid-electric vehicle and intended to bring something different to the hot CUV market.

It’s an unordinary vehicle that will stand out from the “elevator music” of some of the other eco-autos, Orth Hedrick, Kia Motors America’s vice president-product planning, says at the Niro’s world debut at the Chicago Auto Show.

He adds: “The subcompact CUV market continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments in the world, and the Niro offers a uniquely alluring yet practical package that consumers haven’t seen before.”

Hedrick touts its “athletic stance,” functionality, innovation and prospective fuel economy. It is expected to get up to 50 mpg (4.7L/100 km). 

The Toyota Prius dominates the hybrid-vehicle market. It had sales of 207,372 units in the U.S. last year, according to WardsAuto data.

“The Prius is the 800-lbs. gorilla in the hybrid segment,” Hedrick says on the sidelines of the Niro introduction. “They’ve established themselves as the leader. For those customers who don’t like what’s in the market, there’s an alternative now. So folks, who were maybe fence sitters when it came to buying a hybrid, now have a new choice.”

The Niro was designed at Kia styling facilities in both California and South Korea. Production begins in June.

Although debuting in the U.S., the Niro first will go on sale later this year in international markets such as Kia’s home market of South Korea, Europe and China. It arrives at U.S. dealerships in 2017. A plug-in hybrid-electric version is in the works. Kia also offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Optima midsize sedan.

The Niro comes with an all-new Kappa 1.6L GDI 4-cyl. designed specifically for hybrid applications.

The 103-hp engine marks the first combination of the Atkinson Cycle, cooled-exhaust-gas recirculation, GDI and a long-stroke-narrow-bore specification.

A 43-hp tractive motor, called a transmission-mounted electric device or TMED, works in tandem with the gasoline engine to produce 146 hp and 195 lb. ft. (265 Nm) of torque.

Power is delivered through a second-generation 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Electric power comes from a 1.56-kWh Lithium Ion Polymer battery located underneath the rear seat. The same battery is in the Kia Soul EV.

“The polymer battery is kind of the next generation from lithium-ion batteries,” Hedrick says. “It has more energy density, so we were able to package it in a smaller space.”

He talks with WardsAuto about the Niro and its prospective place in the market.

WardsAuto: Its world debut is in Chicago, yet the Niro initially will go on sale in markets other than the U.S. Why?

Hedrick: Basically because of regulations. For individual cars, they’re completely different. And the vehicle comes from one manufacturing facility. So the plant needs time to sequence those different parts.

WardsAuto: What did you see in the segment space that made you want to introduce the Niro?

Hedrick: Mainly a lot of folks who wanted a hybrid, wanted the efficiency, but who weren’t satisfied with what’s out there now. Design and driving feel are the two big opportunities the Niro brings to market. Consumers want the utility and the practicality, but they also want the design.

WardsAuto: You also wanted to expand your CUV lineup, but with a hybrid?

Hedrick: That’s exactly right.

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