Kia Motors has picked the 2010 Chicago motor show to unveil its new Ray plug-in hybrid concept car. It's a futuristic look at what a 4.4m-long Kia family car of tomorrow could look like.It's based on the Kia Forte platform, but boosted by a plug-in hybrid system mixing a 151bhp direct-injection 1.4-litre petrol with the latest lithium-polymer batteries. Kia claims a 746-mile range: 50 on electric power alone.
The claimed economy figure stands at an outlandish 202mpg. Thank the zero-emissions boost of a 78kW electric motor driving through a CVT auto 'box.
Kia Ray: the lowdown
The Ray is bristling with Kia's latest green tech. Body panels are recycled and hexagonal solar panels are embedded in the panoramic glass roof to top up battery charge and chill the cabin on warm days. If the Ray reminds you of a well-loved bar of soap, that's because the designers have used as many flush surfaces and as few edges as possible to boost the aerodynamics.
Flat wheel covers, tiny rear-view cameras replacing mirrors and headlamps that move to increase cooling at speed all contribute to the 0.25 drag coefficient. Kia claims a 109mph top speed.
Will the Ray be at Geneva too?
Yes – alongside a low-CO2 Kia Venga and a new family of downsized turbo petrol engines. Come back to CAR Online on 1 March 2010 for our full Geneva motor show coverage.
