SEOUL: Kia has jumped the gun and revealed teaser shots of its concepts that are going to make an appearance next year donning its production-ready sheet metal and they are none other than the Niro hybrid crossover and the next-generation Cadenza luxury sedan.

First previewed in 2013, the Niro is on the brink of its production phase since its launch and subsequent sale has been set for the first half of 2016.

The Korean carmaker will pair a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine churning out 103bhp and 147Nm of torque with an electric motor and a 1.56kWh battery pack - a six-speed dual clutch gearbox will manage power sent to the front wheels.

While Kia prepares to release its Prius-fighter, the company also indicated that a plug-in hybrid version is to follow later on.

The Niro will follow normal convention by ditching its three-door concept and will be sticking to a five-door approach instead, while its aero-tuned sheet metal helps to improve efficiency.

In its move to become a global leader in environmentally responsible motoring by 2020, Relaxnews reported that Kia plans to have 11 significantly different green cars on the road (ip from the current four) that will use everything from tiny, turbocharged engines to hybrid powertrains and plug-in electric through to hydrogen fuel cell technology in order to slash its fleet's CO2 output.

Hyundai, Kia's partner and parent company, already sells a hydrogen fuel cell car and Kia a plug-in electric version of its Soul compact crossover, but the new roadmap will require a further US$10.2 billion investment.

Kia boasts that its next-generation Cadenza will set new standards for design and interior quality in terms of refinement and luxury with sales expected to begin sometime next year in international markets, except for the UK.

The company said that it has maintained the progressive, contemporary image of the current model, while introducing higher levels of luxury and refinement.

In other words, the new Cadenza is fundamentally a reinterpretation of its predecessor and wouldn’t deviate too far from the elongated bonnet, wider, lower stance and sharper styling lines to make it instantly recognisable.

Lastly, the cabin will be feature a fresh appearance and layout that offers a sense of width and spaciousness that’s accompanied by a more high-quality materials being used than before.



 

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