The South Korean carmaker Kia has recently showcased its Optima T-Hybrid Concept car at the Paris Motor Show. The vehicle in question had previously been revealed online in pictures.
Powering the Optima concept is a 1.7-litre four-cylinder CRDi turbodiesel engine that works together with a small electric motor which boasts higher power output. The car also gets an electric supercharger for more power and extra torque.
Moreover, the concept benefits from a 48V lead-carbon battery which does not need active cooling, like the popular lithium-ion batteries, and allows the car to run solely on electric power at low speeds and at cruise. The increase in power is accompanied by a better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.
Other enhancements include a start/stop system as well as a new belt-driven starter generator instead of the conventional alternator.
The Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept made public debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show along with two other Kia models, namely namely the Rio supermini and the Venga mini-MPV.
