The new Kia Niro showed up last fall, but only in the mild hybrid version. This time around, both the PHEV and BEV have been revealed.
Powering the part-electric car is a 1.6-liter Smartstream engine rated at 105 PS (104 hp / 77 kW) and 144 Nm (106 lb-ft) of torque. An electric motor assists it for 84 PS (83 hp / 62 kW), a considerable boost over the previous generation’s 61 PS (60 hp / 45 kW).
As a result, the combined system output now amounts to 183 PS (180 hp / 135 kW) instead of just 141 PS (139 hp / 104 kW). Furthermore, you can now cover around 65 km (40 miles) on electric power, up 16 km (10 miles) from before.
In turn, the Kia Niro EV is now only available in the top spec rated at 204 PS (201 hp / 150 kW). It does the launch exercise in slightly less than eight seconds, maxes out at 167 km/h (104 mph), and offers up to 463 km (287 miles) of driving range on a charge.
Sales will start later in this quarter.