February 27th 2009 14:40

After years of being in the styling doldrums, Kia looks as though it has seized the day with design.

It has followed up the C'eed and surprising new-look Cerato with the No3 concept, which will be unveiled at next Tuesday's Geneva Motor Show.

The No3 concept hatch, described as a multi-purpose vehicle, is one of three new Kias to be at the show.

Apart from the No3, Kia will show off a range of cars with what it calls ISG for “idle, stop and go”, as well as an innovative hybrid.

Kia executives say the No3 concept “redefines the small MPV genre by creating a beautiful car that is also fun-to-drive”.

The concept looks almost production ready and could end up battling the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Getz in the ultra-competitive light-car class.

The concept features an extended windscreen and panorama glass roof with a diagonal supporting bar, an automatic sun visor and the new Kia corporate grille treatment, headlights and brand logo in a new constellation.

At 4045 mm long, the concept is 95mm longer than a Ford Fiesta concept.

The No3 is finished in matt Titanium Grey with contrasting gloss-white accents.

The ISG system will be previewed in the Kia Cee'd.

It delivers about to 15 oper cent fuel savings in city driving.

The device is already on sale in many countries across Europe.

The system automatically switches the engine off when the car is stopped in traffic and restarts the engine instantly when the driver moves off.

ISG cars are available with a choice of 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines.

The 1.4-litre ISG models at Geneva have a 137 g/km CO2 rating.

In keeping with an emerging green theme at Geneva, the Korean carmaker has built a fleet of prototype Kia Cee'd hybrids especially for testing and evaluation in Europe.

The Cee'd Hybrid uses an upgraded powertrain with Kia's Gamma 1.6-litre petrol engine, mated to a 15kW, 105Nm AC synchronised electric motor, CVT transmission and ISG.

The hybrid hits 100km/h in 11.8 seconds and has a top speed of 185 km/h.

The prototype achieves fuel consumption of 4.81 litres/100km and a CO2 figure of 109 g/km, a 25 per cent reduction compared to the standard 1.6-litre petrol Cee'd.

Herald Sun

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Paladin - Category: Korean Cars, Hatchbacks, Kia, Other Shows

Email this Post to a Friend

Hyundai i20 three-door

February 20th 2009 06:45

Just days after Hyundai exhibited the new i20 five-door at Melbourne motor show, the three-door version will debut at Geneva’s auto-fest.

The three-door is built on the same wheelbase, and carries the same 1.2-litre Kappa engine, but weighs 10kg less than the five-door’s 1045kg.

Hyundai Australia says they would welcome the three-door here, and doesn’t see any barriers to it arriving.

“We are certainly looking at bringing it to Australia,” spokesman Ben Hershman says, but can’t predict how soon after the five-doors arrival – set to be mid-year – that might happen.

“There’s no impediment, but we just can’t confirm what the timing would be on that. We haven’t been advised of production dates.”

Hershman says he expects both versions of the i20 will do well in the local showrooms.

“There’s a strong market for both three and five-door small cars at the moment,” he says.

“The Getz does very well for us in both areas.”

Hershman says the i20 will land here around the competitive $16,000 price mark, so he doesn’t believe there is any risk of the i20 cannibalising from its stablemate, which is currently around $2000 cheaper.

“We really see two different customers in that end of the market … the value buyer looking at price of entry, and then those who are looking for the slightly larger body and more sophisticated technology that the i20 will offer.”

The three-door has the same nose and tail as the larger version, but has larger doors and a more upswept line along the side profile.

Hyundai says its quick-release memory seats allow easy `walk-in’ access for the rear, while the car as specced for the overseas market will feature six airbags – front, side and curtain – plus active head-restraints.

Overseas specs show the 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the five-door develops 57.4kW at 6000rpm and 119Nm at 4000rpm, with a five-speed manual driving the front set of 14” wheels. It’s reported to get to 100km/h in a fairly leisurely 12.9 seconds and to a top speed of 165km/h, with a frugal combined fuel consumption of 5.2L/100km and 124g/km of Co2.

Carsguide

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Paladin - Category: Korean Cars, Hatchbacks, Hyundai, Melbourne International, Other Shows

Email this Post to a Friend

Mazda3 MPS

February 4th 2009 09:45

Apart from the fact that it’s bright red, Mazda is saving some crucial details about its new MPS until next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

Although it has confirmed the hot turbocharged hatch, performance details are scarce.

The company is saving the best for the car's first official airing at the Geneva show, which opens on March 3.

But Mazda Australia spokesman, Glenn Butler, has confirmed the MPS will hit local showrooms around September.

If exchange rates hold, pricing is expected to be close to the current car, around $40,000.

The MPS makes up a small but important portion of sales of the 3000 Mazda3s sold locally each month but Butler says it has a strong following.

“It's reason for existence is more than just sales,” he says.

“It's the halo car for the Mazda3 and for the brand.”

Visually the new MPS gets the go-fast bits that so characterise the current car, but the letterbox bonnet air intake for the turbo is new.

It gives the car and edgier, more aggressive look that is obviously designed to go head-to-head with its key rivals, the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.

Apart from the air intake there is low-profile performance rubber, dual exhausts, rear diffuser and sports body kit and a rear roof-mounted spoiler.

Inside buyers can expect comfy sports seats and sports instruments.

Power comes from the carry over turbo-charged direct injection 2.3-litre four cylinder engine, shared with the CX7, mated to six-speed manual gearbox.

The company isn't revealing performance figures but power could be as high as 200kW, just enough to eclipse the WRX and Ralliart.

The current car develops 190kW/380Nm.

Butler says there was no need to upgrade the 2.3-litre to a normally aspirated 2.5-litre, which will power the new Mazda3 SP25.

Apart from power and torque figures, Mazda isn’t telling us whether the car will stick with front-wheel drive or opt for all-wheel drive.

There is also some speculation it could borrow the new “Revoknuckle” front-wheel drive suspension from the Ford Focus RS, as the new Mazda shares much underneath with the Ford.

The Revoknuckle suspension is designed to eliminate torque steer and provide a more connected steering response.

According to the Mazda3 program manager, Yoshiyuki Maeda, the MPS is “is the ultimate sporting expression of our new-generation Mazda3 range”.

“It builds on the already capable new-generation Mazda3 hatch with higher levels of ferocity and exhilaration, and like all new Mazda models with an eye to environmental concerns, powering responsibly into the motoring future.”

Herald Sun

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Paladin - Category: Japanese Cars, Hatchbacks, Mazda, Other Shows

Email this Post to a Friend

[ Wheel Fever Home ] [ Create A New Post ]