Paris Motor Show: Kia Optima T-Hybrid

One of Kia showings at this year's Paris Motor Show is a intriguing hybrid concept housed in the current Optima. The Optima T-Hybrid Concept pairs a 1.7L diesel four-cylinder featuring a turbocharger and electric supercharger, and a a small electric motor with a 48-volt lead-carbon battery. The mild-hybrid setup allows the vehicle to travel on all-electric at low speeds and when cruising. When slowing down, the setup helps recharge the battery pack. Kia isn't talking about fuel economy or emissions as the company is still developing the powertrain.

“In future, our mild hybrid powertrain could offer Kia customers greater performance and lower running costs, without sacrificing the qualities they expect of a Kia car – enjoyable handling, a comfortable ride and high quality. Demonstrated for the first time in the Optima T-Hybrid, the technology will lower the total cost of ownership of our cars, yet still keep them affordable as an outright purchase for customers,” said Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe.

Source: Kia

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at william.maley@cheersandgears.comor you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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Kia to showcase diesel-electric Kia Optima T-Hybrid at Paris

- More power and lower emissions for Kia Optima mild hybrid show car

- Innovative new powertrain pairs 1.7-litre CRDi turbo-diesel engine with 48V lead-carbon battery, small electric motor and an electric supercharger- Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept previews new powertrain technology ahead of future mass production

Frankfurt, 29 September 2014 – Kia will reveal the new Kia Optima mild hybrid show car at the 2014 Paris Motor Show on 2 October, the first application and demonstration of the brand's innovative new mild hybrid powertrain.

The Kia Optima T-Hybrid (turbo hybrid) concept is powered by the model's existing 1.7-litre CRDi turbo-diesel engine, paired with a small electric motor, powered by a 48V lead-carbon battery. The diesel-electric powertrain concept, which was previewed at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, enables the Optima T-Hybrid show car to be driven in electric-only mode at low speeds and when cruising, with deceleration serving to recharge the battery pack.

Lead-carbon batteries were chosen for the mild hybrid powertrain as, unlike lithium-ion batteries, they require no active cooling and are easier to recycle at the end of the unit's lifecycle.

The vehicle features a zero-emissions stop-start system, and a new belt-driven starter generator replaces the conventional alternator, meaning the engine can restart with almost no noise or vibration. Installing the powertrain in the Optima sedan has enabled engineers to fit a smaller vehicle battery and starter motor, enhancing weight distribution and handling.

The system also allows the installation of an innovative electric supercharger for the CRDi engine, in addition to the conventional turbocharger, providing improved power and torque at all engine speeds. The electric supercharger in particular helps to boost torque and engine response at low engine speeds.

Still under development, no specific performance or fuel economy figures are confirmed for the powertrain or its application in the Optima T-Hybrid show car. However, Kia's engineers are targeting a significant reduction in CO2 tailpipe emissions and fuel consumption and a power increase of between 15 to 20 percent for any model which could be equipped with the new powertrain. Currently, the Optima's 136ps 1.7-litre engine produces CO2 emissions of 128 g/km (when fitted with ISG stop-start).

"In future, our mild hybrid powertrain could offer Kia customers greater performance and lower running costs, without sacrificing the qualities they expect of a Kia car – enjoyable handling, a comfortable ride and high quality. Demonstrated for the first time in the Optima T-Hybrid, the technology will lower the total cost of ownership of our cars, yet still keep them affordable as an outright purchase for customers," commented Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe.

"The new mild hybrid system is our flagship technology for improving the efficiency of our internal combustion-powered models. In future, technology such as this will help Kia further reduce fleet emissions in Europe," added Cole.

While under development, no plans have been confirmed yet for mass production of the Kia Optima T-Hybrid show car. The T-Hybrid powertrain remains under consideration for new Kia models in the future.