Kia has announced its plans to introduce an all-new low emissions vehicle to its growing model line-up.
The all-new Kia Niro will be built from the ground up as a Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV), representing a new concept for the Korean car manufacturer, and marking the development of Kia’s first dedicated eco-car platform.
While the Niro is an all-new model with no direct predecessors, it is still immediately recognisable as a Kia, carrying forward the company’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille and a series of other design cues from the latest Kia products.
The Kia Niro will combine a stylish SUV design with target CO2 emissions of under 90g/km combined.
The model will feature a downsized hybrid powertrain, pairing Kia’s 104bhp 1.6-litre ‘Kappa’ petrol direct injection (GDI) engine with a 1.56 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack and 32 kW electric motor, all mated to a six-speed double-clutch transmission.
The new Kia Niro Hybrid Utility Vehicle is due to be unveiled next year, with production for global markets scheduled to start in 2016.
