What is it?
Kia Ray Concept
What's special about it?
After developing a handful of production-ready alternative-fuel vehicles, Kia has looked a little further into the future this time. The result is the Kia Ray, a plug-in hybrid sedan that combines a laundry list of eco-friendly features with a futuristic design that isn't meant to look like just another Prius fighter.
Built on the same platform as the Kia Forte sedan, the Ray features a 1.4-liter inline-4 engine that sends power to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A 78-kilowatt (105 horsepower) motor is also used to power the car either on its own or in conjunction with the gas engine.
Kia says the electric motor is designed to propel the Ray up to 50 miles on a charge before the gas engine needs to kick in. It also says the Ray gets 202 mpg, which gives it a total range of 746 miles. That's all theoretical of course, so it could be 746 miles or it could be 74.6 miles — nobody really knows.
The Ray's performance figures are not the point here, though. It's really all about seeing how many eco-friendly pieces of technology will fit into one relatively compact sedan. Take the exterior, for instance. It clearly sports a slippery shape to reduce drag, but it's also covered in nano-laminate film to keep the interior cool and reduce the need for all those harmful emissions from the air-conditioning. Solar cells on the roof also generate a trickle charge to run a fan that further cools the interior.
On the inside, the Ray features a typical concept car interior complete with "floating" white leather seats, mesh door panels and a push-button transmission. Kia also notes that the floor is covered in everybody's favorite renewable resource, "100 percent earthy mocha wool."
On the technology side, the Ray features an Infinity GreenEdge sound system that uses lighter speakers and low-consumption amplifiers that use less overall power than conventional systems. Kia's new UVO entertainment system has also been integrated for full voice-activated control of the car's media system.
Inside Line says: Yes, the Kia Ray is a plug-in hybrid that doesn't look much like a Prius. Then again, it doesn't look much better than a Prius either, so the jury is still out regarding the potential cool factor of hybrids. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
Add A Comment »
deadviper says:
05:57 PM, 02/19/2010
"The Nissan Leaf is better in every way and can go much further..."
Than what? A guy on a bycicle? The leaf's pure EV so it's range is going to be less than the volt, which is a series hybrid. Sure do have your facts pretty well screwed up for someone called "wikiwiki"
aceman4 says:
06:44 AM, 02/15/2010
I will buy one.
wikiwiki says:
10:30 AM, 02/11/2010
Great looking car. I think the Volt is going to be a flop. The Nissan Leaf is better in every way and can go much further and looks better too. This looks better than all of them and will kick butt IF the production version keeps the lines of the concept. If it comes out looking more like the new Forte that's a pretty good thing as well.
thejohnp says:
09:20 AM, 02/11/2010
I kind of like the looks, but as we all know concept to production often uglies up a car real good.
lemiet says:
09:20 PM, 02/10/2010
@isend2c - I couldn't agree more on the CVT thing, an efficient 7 speed auto will do fine. All in all I think this car is very attractive. It's just my opinion and others are welcome to differ.
stewy3572 says:
05:16 PM, 02/10/2010
To each his/her own - but I think this is a great looking car.
deadviper says:
01:44 PM, 02/10/2010
So...what's the inspiration? A starfleet shuttlecraft that been left in the microwave set on "nuke"? The volt's a much better regular car that this mutant could be. They tried to hard to give is 'sleek sexy' stylish" and we end up with weird and globular, like the blob on wheels.
Who knows if the powertrain's got what it takes to man up to the volt....wow, never thought I'd type something like that, lol...but if kia expects to let us find out, they need to put it in something they can realistically sell. Like the already quite good forte.
isend2c says:
11:47 AM, 02/10/2010
I don't know why you said it doesn't look much better - it looks good for a concept car and great for a hybrid. It's one I'd even consider... I hope Kia's budget doesn't allow a CVT. I hate 'em.