Kia Forte LP1 Hybrid
This is Kia’s Forte(known as Cerato in Australia) LP1 Hybrid, which is due for release in the Korean market next month.
Its part of Kia Motors push towards a range of what they are calling “earth-positive vehicles” and their new environmental brand “EcoDynamics”.
It’s a hybrid with a twist though; this car runs on both Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) - and electricity.
The engine is 1.6-litre Gamma LP1 HEV unit producing 84kW and 148Nm of torque mated to a fuel efficient Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), said to be good for approximately 5.5-litres per 100 kilometres.
This new Kia is also the first car in the world to use lithium polymer batteries, which compared to nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-MH) used by the most advanced hybrids today, provides more power in a lighter and smaller package.
Kia also plans to introduce a mid-sized, full hybrid car in 2011, followed up by a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2012.