Kia to Offer Start-Stop Tech by 2012

Continuing to strengthen their reputations for providing fuel-efficient vehicles, Kia will begin integrating "start-stop" engine functionality in their future vehicle lineups, with some models to get the systems within two years.

Just beginning to gain popularity in overseas markets, the technology can turn off a product's engine when the vehicle comes to a stop in certain conditions - for example, if a driver is stuck in a traffic jam - then automatically restart the powerplant when the brake or clutch is released. Owners can see fuel-efficiency gains of approximately 3 percent with start-stop-equipped vehicles, which can add up noticeably in urban stop-and-go driving.

But this is just the latest move in the South Korean automakers' campaign to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles. Notably, the two brands have begun shifting away from the use of big V-6 engines in key product lines, including the 2011 Kia Optima family. These sedans will only offer four-cylinder engines for the '11 model year, with high-performance models to rely on turbocharging for added power.

Likewise, the Optima will also be the first hybrid from Kia and they'll be capable of achieving EPA ratings of 37 mpg city and 39 mpg highway.

Stay in touch with us at World Car Kia New Braunfels and Austin Texas as we bring you the latest news and developments regarding the release of the all new 2011 Kia Optima!

*content courtesy of www.autotropolis.com

Kia Ray Hybrid/Electric Concept

After developing a handful of production-ready alternative-fuel vehicles, Kia has looked a little further into the future this time. The result is the Kia Ray, a plug-in hybrid sedan that combines a laundry list of eco-friendly features with a futuristic design.

Built on the same platform as the Kia Forte sedan, the Ray features a 1.4-liter inline-4 engine that sends power to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A 78-kilowatt (105 horsepower) motor is also used to power the car either on its own or in conjunction with the gas engine.

Kia says the electric motor is designed to propel the Ray up to 50 miles on a charge before the gas engine needs to kick in. It also says the Ray could get an amazing 202 mpg.

It's really all about seeing how many eco-friendly pieces of technology will fit into one relatively compact sedan. The exterior clearly sports a slippery shape to reduce drag, but it's also covered in nano-laminate film to keep the interior cool and reduce the need for all those harmful emissions from the air-conditioning. Solar cells on the roof also generate a trickle charge to run a fan that further cools the interior.

On the inside, the Ray features a typical concept car interior complete with "floating" white leather seats, mesh door panels and a push-button transmission. Kia also notes that the floor is covered in everybody's favorite renewable resource, "100 percent earthy mocha wool."

On the technology side, the Ray features an Infinity GreenEdge sound system that uses lighter speakers and low-consumption amplifiers that use less overall power than conventional systems. Kia's new UVO entertainment system has also been integrated for full voice-activated control of the car's media system.

Keep in touch with us at World Car Kia in New Braunfels, Austin, San Marcos as we bring you the latest Kia News and updates on Kia's amazing concept car ideas!

*image/content courtesy of www.insideline.com