After what seemed like round after round of spyshots, the Kia Niro is finally nearing its unveiling – the South Korean carmaker has released teaser renderings of its first global B-segment crossover ahead of its official debut slated sometime in the first half of 2016.
As expected the Niro looks almost nothing like the concept from Frankfurt 2013, and instead adopts a sort of Sportage-redux aesthetic. The front end is dominated by a large “tiger nose” grille, with the triangular headlights set above it; the bumper features an aggressive lower air dam and BMW Air Curtain-inspired intakes ahead of the front wheels.
Along the side, the Niro gains a small rear quarter light that marks it out from the Sportage’s thick C-pillar, while the rear features a design that’s more akin to the Rio hatchback, with C-shaped tail lights and a low-set rear number plate recess. Black plastic body mouldings add to the rugged image of the car.
Kia has confirmed that the Niro will be hybrid-only, at least in its home market – a 105 PS/147 Nm 1.6 litre GDI direct-injected petrol engine is mated to a 35 kW (47 hp) electric motor, a 1.56 kWh battery and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s reported that this is the same petrol-electric setup that will also be fitted to the Toyota Prius-fighting Hyundai Ioniq hybrid.
Expect traditional petrol and diesel powertrains to be offered in other markets, as well as a plug-in hybrid later on as part of the company’s goal to improve its corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) by over 25% by the year 2020.
SPYSHOTS: Kia Niro B-segment crossover
GALLERY: Kia Niro Concept from Frankfurt 2013
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Better than the Proton Iriz Active concept.
No RV kimchi
As long as it is kimchi, it will not have RV.
the rear lights inspired by VW golf?
Front look like Iriz, rear look like Golf. So where’s the originality?
originally the RIO
just put alphabet N to become Niro
It’s just a jacked up Rio, sigh