European premieres of
Kia Ray EV and Track’ster concept car
Geneva – The all-new
Kia cee’d makes its world premiere today (Tuesday) at the 82nd Salon
International de l’Auto in Geneva. Joining the Kia cee’d in Switzerland,
the Ray EV (electric vehicle) and the Track’ster concept make their
first appearance before a European audience.
“The three Kia
premieres taking place at Geneva cover a broad spread of automotive
segments and highlight the diversity of our present and future product
line-up,” commented Thomas Oh, Senior Executive Vice President and COO,
Kia Motors Corporation.
Designed, engineered
and manufactured in Europe, exclusively for the European market, the new
cee’d hatchback is more sophisticated, more efficient, more refined and
delivers a more engaging driving experience than its predecessor. The
new cee’d will build on the success of the original model, further
establishing Kia as one of the leading automotive brands in Europe.
Longer, lower and sleeker than the
original model, the 4.3-metre long new cee’d hatchback has a streamlined
silhouette shaped by extensive testing in Kia’s state-of-the-art wind
tunnel at Namyang, in Korea. Higher quality cabin materials and a
broader range of high-tech equipment will ensure the interior of new
cee’d matches the premium exterior appearance and competes with
best-in-class rivals across Europe.
Across most of Western Europe, the new
cee’d will be available with two gasoline (1.4 MPI, 1.6 GDI) and two
diesel (1.4 WGT,1.6 VGT) engines offering power outputs from 90 to 135
ps.
Kia Ray EV
Unveiled in December 2011 and now on sale
in Korea, the Kia Ray EV is a zero-emissions city car with a range of up
to 139 km (86 miles) on a single charge – which takes as little as 25
minutes using a fast charge system. The 3.6-meter long, front-wheel
drive Ray EV is powered by a 50kW electric motor and a high-capacity
16.4 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack.
Though developed exclusively for the
Korean market, the Ray EV showcases Kia’s technical expertise in
developing a battery electric vehicle and highlights its commitment to
provide a comprehensive technical solution to reduce dependence on
fossile fuels.
Track’ster concept
First shown at this year’s Chicago Auto
Show and now making its European debut, the tough looking Track’ster
concept is based on the Kia Soul, but with even more attitude. It is
designed to be a bold interpretation that challenges people’s
conceptions of what a sporty Kia could be.
Kia‘s Track’ster features a 2.0-liter
turbocharged gasoline engine producing 253 ps – transmitting that power
to all wheels via an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system.
A short-throw six-speed manual transmission is engaged via a stubby
spherical shift lever. Lowered sport-suspension, enlarged brakes and
wheels that have been honed for maximum performance give the Track‘ster
impressive handling.
Also on display at Geneva is Kia’s new IVI
(in-vehicle infotainment) concept, first shown at the Las Vegas Consumer
Electronics Show in January, which offers a glimpse into the future of
feature-rich information and entertainment systems.
