Can the Kia Ray challenge the Prius now?

15. Feb, 2010 0 Comments

While Toyota’s having its recall issues, this may be just the time for the Kia Ray, Kia’s new plug-in hybrid, to pick up steam and start taking attention away from the Prius. The Ray certainly is a strong challenger. Check out your Kia Dealerships in Normal to see what we mean.

“Being green doesn’t have to be an obvious statement anymore and the Kia “Ray” exemplifies a viable blend of modern, eco-minded features for today’s environmentally conscious consumers,” says Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer for the Kia Motors Corporation.

Check out Kia dealerships in Normal for Kia Ray and other Kia models, like Kia Soul Normal IL.

Debuted at the Chicago Motor Show, the concept for the Ray includes a powertrain that will propel the new Cee’d hatch in 2012. It’s a 151bhp 1.4-litre direct-injection petrol engine boosted by a 78kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. This drives the front wheels through a CVT automatic gearbox with a range of up to 50 miles on electricity alone, or 746 miles using the petrol engine.

The Ray also utilizes some clever energy-saving features, including an engine alternator management system, and an indicator that tells you when to change gear for the most economical driving. Low-rolling-resistance tires improve efficiency further. The front headlamps even slide back to create better air intake when the petrol engine is used.

So what does all that mean? Well, the Ray can return 202 mpg in plug-in mode with a top speed of 109 mph – certainly nothing to snuff at. How can it maintain that sort of speed while staying ecologically friendly? It’s all in the body – a slippery, aerodynamic shape, with low ride height and a long, high tail reduces drag. Composite mesh seats help keep the vehicle’s weight low.

Going down the eco-friendly checklist, the Ray also has roof-mounted solar panels, which power a fan to keep the interior cool in hot conditions. And in terms of tech, it features touch-screen controls, drive-by-wire steering, “cool-glazing” solar glass and a lithium-polymer battery.

As far as the design goes, Kia didn’t want to look like your typical hybrid, but instead to develop “something that you wouldn’t feel embarrassed driving, but actually feel proud to be seen in.” They looked to airplanes for inspiration in the design process, using the “less is more” mentality. Everything on the Kia Ray is there for a reason.