2013 Kia Soul on 2040-cars

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The Kia Optima is now available as a plug-in hybrid

The Kia Optima gets electrified two ways for 2017. In addition to the conventional hybrid, there's a new plug-in version as well – makes sense, since the Optima's corporate sister, the Hyundai Sonata is offered with both options. The new Kia Optima Hybrid ditches the larger 2.4-liter internal combustion engine from the previous model in favor of a smaller 2.0, good for 154 horsepower, and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that does away with the torque converter in favor of an electric clutch, with electric water and oil pumps to help optimize efficiency. Working in tandem with the 38-kW electric motor and juiced by a 1.62-kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, the powertrain delivers a total of 193 horsepower while targeting a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over the previous Optima Hybrid. Not enough? Tew Optima PHEV that uses the same 2.0-liter four, but instead of 38 kW (51 hp), the plug-in's electric motor produces 50 kW (or 67 hp), and instead of 1.62 kWh, the PHEV's lithium-ion battery pack is rated exponentially higher at 9.8 kWh. It's said to travel for 600 miles before needing to stop, or up to 27 miles on electric power alone. And of course it can be recharged directly from the socket, taking less than nine hours on 120 volts and less than three on 240. If those powertrain components sound familiar to you, that's because they're identical to those offered in the Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid from Kia's sister brand Hyundai. Only here they're packaged into a more angular, less curvy form and capped by a Kia badge and tiger-nose grille. Interested? There's plenty more to digest in the pair of press releases below. View 10 Photos ALL-NEW KIA OPTIMA HYBRID UNVEILED AT 2016 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW Enhanced HEV Blends Sophisticated Design and Premium Driving Experience with Focus on Efficiency - New powertrain targets 10 percent improvement in fuel economy over outgoing Optima Hybrid - 2017 model infuses aerodynamic form and function into Optima's sleek, modern design - Gas-electric sedan touts intelligent use of technology to deliver comprehensive driver-assistance features CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2016 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today unveiled the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid (HEV) at the Chicago Auto Show.

In lifetime analysis, Kia Soul EV is way, way cleaner than diesel model

The heart of the matter is that the battery-electric Kia Soul is better for the environment. And not just because it doesn't create any emissions while on the road. From beginning to end, the Soul EV has a far lower environmental impact than its more conventional counterparts. TUV Nord, the German technical inspection group, says the Soul EV has a carbon footprint that is 40-percent smaller than the one from the diesel-powered Soul sold in Europe. That's factoring in everything from the materials that go into building the car to the recyclability once it's defunct to, of course, tailpipe emissions. Or lack thereof. Kia plans to start sales of the Soul EV in its native South Korea sometime this year and is keeping global sales expectations modest, saying it plans to make about 5,000 Soul EVs annually. The car will be priced at the equivalent of about $39,000 US in South Korea, though government subsidies will cut that down a bit. Kia hasn't set an official launch date for the car in the US, but expects for the Soul EV to be available to Americans by the end of the year, Kia US spokesman James Hope told AutoblogGreen. Check out the press release about the Kia Soul EV's TUV Nord score below and read our First Drive impressions of the model here. Kia Soul EV earns whole-life environmental certificate - Soul EV achieves major TUV Nord Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) certificate - ISO 14040 certification considers whole-life environmental impact of Soul EV (SEOUL) June 18, 2014 – The Kia Soul EV has become the latest model from the Korean brand to earn important certification for its outstanding whole-life environmental credentials. TUV Nord, an independent technical inspection organisation, has certified the new Kia Soul EV according to the ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standard. LCA examines the environmental impact of both the car and the overall manufacturing process throughout its whole life, taking into account factors such as choice of materials, tailpipe emissions and recycling. Comparing the Soul EV to its diesel counterpart currently on sale in Europe, the zero-emissions electric vehicle scored particularly strongly for 'Global Warming Potential', emitting 39.7% fewer greenhouse gases over the whole life of the vehicle, such as carbon dioxide and methane.

Minivans and hybrids shopped by men and women equally

Men love fast, exotic cars, and women want something safe and practical – at least that is the way conventional thinking goes. But a new study challenges these old beliefs. According to the auto information aggregators at iSeeCars, both sexes shop for minivans and hybrids equally. The study also dug deeper into the different browsing habits between genders. For instance, women are twice as likely to shop for Kia and 67 percent more likely to shop for Hyundai. Men are seven percent more likely to buy American cars. Both sexes shop the German brands equally. It seems that men might be slightly greener in their shopping because they are twice as likely to browse electric cars and two and a half times more likely to look at diesels. Still, the old stereotype of men wanting a more performance-oriented car is not entirely false. They also are more likely to look at cars that cost over $45,000, and men are still more likely to buy a sports car. "Men like fast, flashy cars. They are performance oriented, even if they have to shell out more money," Phong Ly, cofounder and CEO of iSeeCars, said in an interview with CBS MoneyWatch. "Women are looking for the best value." The iSeeCars study got its data directly from dealers and online sellers like eBay Motors, then determined sex based on first name and excluded gender-neutral names. What it shows is that even if men might like browsing for fast cars, practicality and economy win out in the end. It's still fun to look, though. News Source: iSeeCars via CBS News MoneyWatchImage Credit: Shutterstock / Deklofenak Hyundai Kia Car Buying Minivan/Van Electric Hybrid