Kia product tsunami coming to CIAS
Kia will be bringing one of its largest array of new models to the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto that kicks off on February 15.
It starts with the 2020 Forte5 compact hatchback revealed recently prior to the Montreal Auto Show and joins the 2020 Soul, 2020 Soul EV and 2019 Niro EV and the three-row 2020 Telluride SUV.
The Forte5 will be offered with a choice of a 1.6-litre turbo, direct injection or 2.0-litre normally aspirated inline four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. All-wheel-drive is not available at this time.
Although NRCan fuel and power ratings are still to be finalized, the 2.0-litre in the 2019 Forte sedan was pegged at 177 hp and 132 lb/ft of torque. The 1.6-litre will feature a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission
For comparison, the 1.6-litre twin scroll turbo in the 2018 Soul delivers 201 hp and 195 lb/ft of torque.
It should be stressed the results above are subjective pending Canadian approvals.
Also sharing the pre-Montreal spotlight were the Soul EV and Niro EV that Kia says are, ”real-world electric vehicles that fuse functionality with practicality and provide consumers with cost-savings on fuel without the traditional range restrictions of fully-electric cars.”
Kia says the Niro EV (Electric Vehicle) will have a range of 385 km with an ultra-fast standard Combined Charging System (CCS) that can provide enough juice in 30 minutes to cover 135 km using s 50 kWh charger or up to 193 km in 30 minutes with a 100 kWh system.
The Soul EV arriving in Canada this summer will be powered by a 134 hp electric motor with torque of 291 lb/ft.
Regenerative braking can be used to keep the battery charged while driving.
Among its many high tech features will be a 10.25-inch touchscreen with rear view display and parking assist.
Rounding off the Kia parade in Montreal was the 2020 gasoline powered Soul compact in five trim levels and coming to showrooms during the first half of this year.
Like the Soul EV, it will have a 10.25-inch touchscreen and available eight-inch heads-up display (HUD).
For music lovers, there will be an optional 640-watt Harman Kardon sound system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer with twice the power of the current Soul.
The Telluride is the first three-row SUV from Kia and also its largest ever model.
Telluride is powered by a 3.8-litre direct injection V6 with 291 hp and 262 lb/ft of torque. The engine runs on the Atkinson Cycle which works best with hybrid power plants hinting this may be in the future.
The available active all-wheel-drive works on demand using an electro-hydraulic coupling and multi-plate clutch to automatically route torque as needed between the front and rear axles.
With standard eight-speed automatic transmission, Telluride offers four driver selectable drive modes (Smart, Eco, Sport and Comfort) with blend engine, drivetrain and steering inputs for the desired response to conditions.
The driver can also select Snow and AWD Lock settings for adverse surfaces and terrain.
Keyword: Kia charges into 2019 in Toronto