Kia Unveils Forte LPI Hybrid

Kia brings a hybrid version of the Forte to market in Korea and is considering exporting the vehicle to other world markets.

A first for Kia

At LotPro.com we see that Hyundai-Kia’s Kia division unveiled its first production hybrid electric vehicle, the Forte Liquid Petroleum Injection (LPI) Hybrid in Seoul today, July 15th.

Based on the Forte 4-door sedan, the Forte LPI Hybrid joins its sedan sibling and the Forte Koup as the third member of Kia’s newest nameplate. According to information supplied by Kia, the company invested approximately $180 billion over a period of 25 months in order to develop the Forte LPI.

Drivetrain

The Forte LPI Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter “Gamma” engine, specifically engineered by Kia to run on liquid petroleum gas, coupled to a continuously variable transmission. The CVT, unique to the hybrid, is equipped with what Kia is calling special “E-gear” (Eco Drive) electronics that enable the transmission to make automatic adjustments in order to ensure maximum fuel efficiency.

The other half of the Forte’s hybrid system consists of an electric motor, inverter, converter and 180V lithium ion polymer battery. The system is augmented by Kia’s Idle Stop and Go (ISG) function, which switches off the engine during idle to further reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. The system also is active when the driver applies the brakes after running the vehicle for more than two seconds at speeds of 5.6 miles per hour or higher.

Exterior modifications

In addition to its unique drivetrain, the Forte LPI is the recipient of a number of body modifications designed to cut down on aerodynamic drag. LPI-specific front and rear bumper skirts, aluminum wheels and a small rear lip spoiler are the most obvious differences. Kia has also added underbody covers to the engine compartment and most of the passenger compartment that result in a Cd of just 0.26 for the LPI, as compared to 0.29 for all other Forte sedans.

Inside, the LPI boasts of what Kia calls its “full-digital SuperVision” instrumentation which, for all you Clark Kent wannabees out there, includes an “Eco Guide” function that will encourage drivers along the road to greenness with an “Eco Driving Point” icon.

While both the engine and the electric motor are activated when the ignition is turned on, only the engine will actually power the vehicle when cruising. The battery is designed to store energy created using regenerative braking and will be used solely to power onboard vehicle accessory systems.

The envelope, please

The results of all this green technical wizardry enable the Forte LPI Hybrid to return a fuel efficiency rating of 42 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions of 99g/km, qualifying it as a Super Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV).

As of this writing, Kia has no firm plans to export the Forte LPI Hybrid outside the home market in Korea, although the press release announcing the hybrid did state that, “feasibility studies are being conducted to assess consumer interest and potential demand in markets that possess liquid petroleum refueling infrastructure.”

 All images courtesy of Kia Motors Corporation

Tags: cvt, e-gear, eco drive, forte, forte lpi, forte lpi hybrid, forte sedan, hybrid, hyundai-kia, KIA, liquid petroleum gas, lpi, sulev, super low emissions vehicle, supervision