Kia Unveils Hybrid Version of Forte

On Tuesday of this week, Kia Motors unveiled a hybrid version of the recently released Forte sedan.

LP gas electric hybrid

This week, Kia Motors unveiled one of the greenest “green” vehicles we’ve ever seen here at LotPro.com. According to Kia, the new Forte hybrid demonstrates “Kia’s new strategy for eco-friendly management.” The new model, which runs on both liquid petroleum gas and electricity, comes equipped with a 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine. A small (20 hp) electric motor that fits between the engine and transmission supplies the electric drive as well as engine boost and regenerative braking. The Forte hybrid also features auto start-stop and new high-end lithium-ion polymer battery technology. The engine develops 114 horsepower and although there are no official EPA numbers, the company says that fuel consumption is 40.5 miles per gallon.

Eco-Dynamics

The Forte LPI is Kia’s first production hybrid and represents the first use of lithium-ion polymer batteries in a production hybrid. The batteries, incidentally, are supplied by South Korean company LG Chem Ltd., Korea’s largest chemical and rechargeable battery maker and the company also chosen by GM to supply batteries for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt.

The Forte hybrid is also the first vehicle in Kia’s newly-announced Eco-Dynamics brand.

Korean market

Will the new Forte hybrid find its way to our shores? At least at this point, it appears that Kia will not be exporting the new Forte hybrid to the U.S. market, although the company has stated that it is in the process of increasing its efforts to introduce hybrid cars to the market in response to higher fuel prices as well as an increasing awareness of fuel efficiency in the United States.

Tags: forte hybrid, green vehicles, KIA, kia forte, kia forte hybrid