2018 Kia Niro Release Date, Specs News: All-Electric Variant Confirmed, to Use Hyundai Ioniq's Powertrain
Kia's subcompact crossover, Niro, will receive an all-electric powertrain sometime next year, an executive from the company has confirmed.
Dutch publication AutoRai recently spoke to Michael Cole, chief operating officer for Kia Motors Europe, who revealed that the Niro electric vehicle (EV) will be released as a 2018 model and that it will use the same powertrain as the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric.
Hyundai's EV is powered by an 88-kW electric motor that delivers 118 horsepower and 218 pound-feet of torque. It is also equipped with a 28-kWh battery that yields an all-electric driving range of 124 miles. It can go from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 9.9 seconds and attains a top speed of 102 mph.
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The EV will be the third eco-friendly variant of the Niro. Cole mentioned that it will only arrive after the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the subcompact crossover.
The 2017 Kia Niro gasoline-electric hybrid will be arriving in dealerships soon with a starting price of $22,890 with an additional fee of $895 for destination. It is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injected four-cylinder engine that produces 104 horsepower and 109 pound-foot of torque and a 43-horsepower electric motor. Overall, the hybrid delivers 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque.
The engine is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Niro hybrid's 1.56-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery is said to translate to 50 miles per gallon (mpg) for combined driving.
Standard features include six-way front seats, power windows, keyless entry, a 7-inch touchscreen display with a rearview camera, the UVO3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a six-speaker audio system, a steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control and 16-inch wheels.
On the other hand, the South Korean automobile manufacturer is slated to release the plug-in hybrid variant of the Niro later this year, specifically in October or November.
More details about the 2018 Kia Niro EV will be released closer to its official launch date.
