Kia Cerato LPI Hybrid to enter Global Green Challenge

By Matt Brogan | October 09th, 2009

Following the global launch of Kia’s EcoDynamics sub-brand at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Kia Australia have announced that they will enter two cars in the Eco Challenge category of this month’s 2009 Global Green Challenge.

To be run from Darwin to Adelaide from 24-31 October, Kia will enter two Kia Cerato LPI Hybrid vehicles, the same as those released for sale in Korea during August and shown on Kia’s Frankfurt motor show stand last month. The hybrid vehicle uses LPG fuel which can be bought for less than half the cost of petrol or diesel.

The Cerato LPI Hybrid is the newest addition to Kia’s widely acclaimed Cerato family (known as Forte in some markets) which includes the petrol-powered four-door sedan and just launched sporty Koup.

Boasting powerful driving performance and a superior fuel efficiency rating of 5.6L/100km, the Cerato LPI Hybrid answers consumer demand for environmentally friendly vehicles that are exciting and fun to drive. Additionally, with CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km, the Cerato LPI Hybrid qualifies for billing as a Super Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV).

The new car utilises a 1.6-litre Gamma LPI engine with an independently developed Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and hybrid system, comprising an electric motor, inverter, converter and 180V lithium-ion polymer battery.

Also hitting the headlines in October is the next generation Kia Sorento which will feature the new, high-tech R-series diesel engine which delivers 145kW of power and an outstanding 436Nm of maximum torque from just 2.2 litres.

This high efficiency diesel engine will be teamed with new six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. The in-house designed six-speed auto is compact and maintenance-free, offering a new level of smoothness and control.

More news will follow on both of these developments in coming weeks. 2009 has been an exciting year for Kia Motors and the launch of the all-new XM Sorento and participation in the 2009 Global Green Challenge will be further examples of a brand on the rise.

Philthy

Did I read that right that this has Li-pol batteries? I though everyone was still using lithium-ion. Interesting.
Martin

I still hope that they will bring it here. It would truly be one of the cheapest cars to run.
Karl

I wonder how they’ll fill it up because I doubt that theres much LPG avaliable between Adelaide and Darwin

http://skyline The Salesman

They might only need to fill once?
Andrew M

Ford has alreday done runs around the country to dispel the myth about unavailability of LPG.

Dreamin’

Sure they did – visit every town right?
Don’t be sucked in by their propaganda. Get out of the cities and look at some of the smaller towns. It isn’t available everywhere and it’s higher rate of consumption means less range and more frequent fill-ups.

Andrew M

Mate Ive had LPG before and I dont live in the City.
In the time I had LPG I never had any problems sourcing the fuel.
Im not saying every servo stocks LPG, but the stats are in your favour that if you find one that doesnt, the very next one will.

Typiclly whether we use LPG or unleaded we seem to always fill at the same servos anyway right??
If you are sticking to the main roads around Australia I wouldnt be putting my money on a servo not carrying it.

Also where do you get you idea of LPG neding more fill ups???
sure most LPG vehicles use more L/100k’s, but do you realise that LPG tanks are Larger than unleaded tanks compensating for that???

Andrew M

Just for your info,
there is 67 LPG retailers between Adelaide and Darwin

Andrew M

Ok T/S,
this is one Hyundai/Kia product that I admitt may be a good product.

any word on power and torque???

Infact Im waiting for any LPG vehicle to show the world they are heading in the wrong direction by not getting serious about the stuff

http://skyline The Salesman

Andrew M

FROM KIA BLOG. KIA WORLD

Kia’s first ever mass produced hybrid car will be powered by a mild-hybrid system consisting of 1.6L LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injected) Gamma engine – producing a crop of 114-horsepower – and electric motor that generates additional 20 horsepower. Mated to the CVT transmission, the Forte LPI hybrid will average an estimated fuel economy of 4.7L/100km.

Andrew M

Which translates to not much………

Also I would reckon the CVT will make it seem even more sluggish

is the 4.7L economy you say the outdated figure??
This article states 5.6L

I think they should have tried it with at least a 2.0L donk

http://bmw MelbourneStorm

The 1.6l with the hybrid pack fitted will have equal performance to a std. 2l.

Its a new direction in “downsizing”

Thats the whole point of the exercise

Andrew M

I totally understand what they are trying to achieve by downsizing, but my whole angle on the downsizing engine cubes in the aim of bettering fuel economy just doesnt seem to work.
Simply cutting down engine size wont better economy.

Sure the electric motor is suppose to make up for the lost engine size, but how good a job that will do is really yet to be seen.

So lets say this electric motor makes up the equivalent .4L that lacks.
Well I say it should be thrown onto a 2.0L effectively making it a 2.4L.
Then performance should be great without question, and I would bank on economy landing around the same

koe

http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Kia_Sorento_file_390-625×422.jpg

The new sorento looks fine.
it grow in my eyes
http://bmw MelbourneStorm

If they compare $/km this is going to win by MILES

Also the actual outlay to buy it.

Mid $20k’s Kia?

Andrew M

My oath $ per K this will spank them.
A Territory on LPG just beats a Prius on a $ per K basis

Simon

If they measure PRODUCTION cars for the fuel COST [not just the volume used] but actual $$$ per km travelled, this has got them licked.

This if they sell it here will KILL even the most frugal eco DIEsel and petrol hybrids and by MILES

Quote me on this!