Kia Motors launches its first plug-in hybrid, Optima PHEV

Kia's mission to lower the average CO2 emissions of its range by 25 percent before the end of the decade is given a boost with the launch of the company's first plug-in hybrid model, the Optima PHEV. It is priced at £31,495 (Rs 27.91 lakh) after taking into account the UK Government's £2,500 plug-in car grant.

Further, the Korean carmaker also added the Optima Sportswagon to its UK lineup. Kia's first ever D-segment estate car in the UK comes at the same time as a plug-in hybrid version of the Optima. In Europe, two-thirds of D-segment sales and 75 per cent of fleet sales in the class are taken by estate cars.    

With a range of up to 53km in all-electric mode, the Optima PHEV is able to complete many regular urban commuter runs with no tailpipe emissions, while its CO2 figure of just 37g/km means company car users pay just 7 percent benefit-in-kind taxation in 2016-17.

The Optima PHEV combines a 154bhp 2.0-litre direct injection petrol engine with a 50kW (67bhp) electric motor powered by a 9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. The electric motor replaces the torque converter in the smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. When working together, the combustion engine and motor generate 202bhp and 375Nm of torque.    

A package of aerodynamic, styling and technology features contributes towards the Optima PHEV's low CO2 emissions and potential fuel economy of up to 176.6mpg while ensuring it is instantly recognisable as the high-efficiency model in the Optima range. The most significant aerodynamic change is an active air flap grille which lowers the car's drag co-efficient (Cd) to 0.25 when closed. The integration of the batteries behind the rear seat and in the spare wheel well, along with a 15-litre reduction in the car's petrol tank, means the Optima PHEV is still able to offer 307 litres of luggage space.  

Next step in Kia's hybrid development

Hybrids are not new to Kia, but they have never previously been brought to the UK because diesels offered greater tax advantages in the all-important company car market. The all-new Optima PHEV, with its extended all-electric driving range, low CO₂ emissions and ultra-low company car tax rating, redress the balance and will be an important fleet car for Kia in the UK.

The core feature of the hybrid system is the next-generation 9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack, which produces significantly more energy than that in previous Optima hybrids. Meanwhile, the simplicity of the hybrid system allows compact packaging of the petrol engine, electric motor and automatic transmission on the front axle, with minimal energy transfer and conversion losses. This results in excellent performance and range for a D-segment car: up to 33 miles of pure-electric driving at speeds as high as 75mph, with 0-60mph acceleration in 9.1 seconds in hybrid mode. The switch between electric and hybrid driving is seamless, while the electric motor's 205Nm of torque from standstill ensures rapid acceleration and instantaneous response to the throttle pedal.

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