Plug-and-play Kia
First came Kia Motors New Zealand’s launch of the Niro Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models in March, and now the company reports strong interest in the all-electric Niro EV recently unveiled in Korea.
“It’s shaping up to be a stellar year for us – we’ve never had to launch so many brand new products in such a short time,” says Todd McDonald, general manager of Kia Motors New Zealand.
First will be the all-new Kia Cerato sedan, much like the award-winning four-door Optima. The new Cerato sedan is larger than the outgoing model and has new, more fuel-efficient and cleaner engines.
Then will come an all-new Kia Carens 7-seater people mover with a new European styled exterior body style and a roomier cabin. New engines also.
Later in the year will come an all-new 2-seater sports model; performance engine options, including a turbocharged 200hp unit, are being considered for this vehicle.
“There’s a real youthful appeal to the new models that are joining the Kia range this year, which will be seen in their distinctive design and the choice of powertrains,” says McDonald.
Last year Kia stated it would be reducing the time it takes to develop new models and bring them to market, and declared that it would be launching an unprecedented 51 vehicles by 2017.
