Kia Motors \u2018Ray\u2019 Plug-in Hybrid concept debuts in Chicago<\/strong><\/p>\nKia Motors has unveiled its \u2018Ray\u2019 Plug-in Hybrid concept at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, show-casing its innovative fuel-stretching and emissions-cutting technologies.<\/p>\n
Following the Kia Borrego Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), the Forte LPI Hybrid, the\u00a0petrol Kia cee\u2019d Hybrid and the twin-turbo diesel Kia Sorento Hybrid, the \u2018Ray\u2019 concept is a bold new collaboration between design and engineering and inventively showcases a\u00a0futuristic four-seat compact sedan based on the Kia Forte platform.<\/p>\n
Designed with lightweight and recycled materials, as well as hexagonal roof-top solar cells embedded in the glass roof panel to power extra lighting or climate control systems, the Kia \u2018Ray\u2019 boasts a range of up to 1,200 kilometres (746 miles).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to imagine early in the design process what people will want in the future from a green perspective because people want to reduce their carbon footprint without driving carbon copies,\u201d said Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer for the Kia Motors\u00a0Corporation.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing green doesn\u2019t have to be an obvious statement anymore and the Kia \u2018Ray\u2019\u00a0exemplifies a viable blend of modern, eco-minded features for today\u2019s environmentally conscious consumers,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The stylish, aerodynamic \u2018Ray\u2019 combines design and engineering for maximum efficiency, incorporating clean, flush surfaces minimizing any unneeded edges, a flowing profile and a pronounced rear shoulder ending in a slightly higher deck for reduced drag.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Ray\u2019 also features touch-screen controls, drive-by-wire steering, \u2018cool-glazing\u2019 solar glass and a lithium-polymer battery \u2013 all possible indicators of future technology from Kia. As a plug-in hybrid, \u2018Ray\u2019 is designed to cover driving distances of more than 80 km (50 miles) using just its electric motor on a single charge, and has a fuel economy rating of only 1.398 l\/100 km (202 mpg) and a total range of 1,200 km (746 miles).<\/p>\n
Striking Aircraft-Inspired Exterior Design<\/strong><\/p>\nA lowered mono-volume shape and a strong, curvaceous silhouette give the Kia \u2018Ray\u2019 concept better aerodynamic properties than taller profile hybrid vehicles.<\/p>\n
Strong, lightweight materials are used to support the EcoDynamics philosophy starting with a tabbed LED Kia badge covered with a single piece of glass that extends over the hood and another piece of glass that extends from the cowl of the windshield to the rear header to offer occupants a spacious, airy feeling.<\/p>\n
A tapering greenhouse cabin and a longer \u2018tail\u2019 improve aerodynamics while reduction of drag is attained through a one-piece, smooth-as-glass, integrated underbody panel,\u00a0narrow tire width and flush wheel design.<\/p>\n
Front driving lamps slide back to create openings for better air intake when the petrol\u00a0engine is being used and a sliding U-shaped deck-lid extends from the rear of the vehicle at higher speeds for improved coefficient of drag.<\/p>\n
Instead of side-view mirrors and door handles, motion-detector cameras are mounted flush with the body for safe lane changing procedures and opening of doors. The result is an airframe on wheels. The front door opening features a forward cutout design for the feet allowing ease of entry. The purposeful rear-hinged coach doors add a stylish touch and their height and shape improves entry and exit.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Ray\u2019 employs new \u2018cool car\u2019 technology, including nano-laminate films and cool-glazing materials to dramatically reduce solar heat and demonstrate how keeping the\u00a0interior cool will reduce air conditioning loads and greenhouse emissions. When the\u00a0vehicle is parked in the sun, the solar cells provide a trickle charge that helps operate a cooling fan to reduce interior temperatures.<\/p>\n
Light and Airy Interior<\/strong><\/p>\nThe \u2018Ray\u2019 interior is comprised of eco-friendly recycled materials in cool white tones to\u00a0create a sense of purity while also reflecting the heat of the sun, keeping the temperature down and reducing the use of air conditioner energy. Front and rear seats made of light-weight composites, mounted on the side sills, create a floating effect in the cabin and\u00a0utilize elastomeric materials to support body weight.<\/p>\n
Fresh and sustainable trim materials combine with a lightweight touch screen instrument layout featuring a touch screen push-button start and gear shift toggle. The centre console features the all-new Kia UVO powered by Microsoft\u00ae advanced infotainment system\u00a0providing voice- and touch-activated controls for simple management of music files and hands-free mobile phone operation.<\/p>\n
Adding to the list of green technology features \u2018Ray\u2019 also employs the all-new GreenEdge\u2122 system by Infinity\u00ae Audio. The loudspeakers reduce power consumption and dissipation through lower self heating temperatures coupled with increased acoustic performance providing a better synergy between amplifier, speaker and vehicle. The\u00a0amplifier used also reduces the idle power consumption by 50% of current Infinity\u00a0speakers and employs a lower dissipation design for significant savings in overall weight.<\/p>\n
To reduce overall weight through materials and design the hexagon\/honeycomb shape can be found throughout the cabin, used as a repeated design element while tying the interior theme together. Used also in the door inserts and seats, this lightweight and breathable mesh serves to reduce overall kerb weight as well as being a unique design element.<\/p>\n
Other materials found in the cabin are soft to the touch with a matt finish, including white leather, offering a more luxurious, but inviting and tranquil atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Hybrid Architecture<\/strong><\/p>\nThe \u2018Ray\u2019 Concept is designed to be powered by an all-aluminium 153-horsepower\u00a0Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 1.4-litre engine mated to a permanently-engaged fixed ratio Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), used in combination with a 78 kW electric\u00a0motor.<\/p>\n
Depending on driving conditions, power is sent to the front wheels from the petrol engine, the electric motor, or both together.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Ray\u2019 is equipped with an engine-power saving alternator management system and a toggle gear-shift indicator to encourage economical driving. Custom-designed low-rolling resistance tyres featuring a hexagon tread pattern in narrow (195\/50R20) 20-inch diameter construction, also improve efficiency.<\/p>\n
– By: Kap Shah<\/em><\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/feedads.g.doubleclick.net\/~a\/PBnk41sg3ikJEzi46EsTjeK27oA\/0\/di\")
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<\/img><\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On the outside, the new Kia Ray Plug-in Hybrid concept looks like a giant bug – but that doesn’t matter because the main goal of the Ray is to communicate its fuel-saving and emissions-cutting technologies. Power for the Kia Ray Concept comes from an all-aluminum 153-hp Gasoline Direct Injection 1.4L engine mated to a\u00a0permanently-engaged fixed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-303775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303775\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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