AUTOFORUM

Electrified power, ‘big car’ technology and refreshed design for upgraded KIA Rio

May 26, 2020 Kia Rio, KIA Motors, enhancements, electrified power, technology

Electrified power, ‘big car’ technology and refreshed design for upgraded KIA Rio

KIA Motors has announced a significant upgrade to the fourth-generation KIA Rio. The upgraded model features a range of enhancements to reinvigorate the Rio’s position within the highly competitive B-segment.

The upgraded Rio pairs an updated exterior and interior design with ‘big car’ safety and infotainment technologies. The new model also offers drivers efficient new powertrains, including KIA’s first petrol 48V mild-hybrid system, equipped with the company’s new ‘clutch-by-wire’ intelligent manual transmission.

• Efficiency upgrades to powertrain line-up, including new ‘Smartstream’ 1.0-litre T-GDi engine

• New high-tech driver assistance and safety features include Lane Following Assist, Smart Cruise Control, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist

• Upgraded Rio features KIA’s first petrol mild-hybrid powertrain

• Refreshed exterior design provides a bolder more attractive appearance

Inside, the Rio features a series of visual, material and technological upgrades to create a more upscale atmosphere and enhance quality. The main update is a new larger 8.0-inch widescreen, and a higher-resolution 4.2-inch digital display in the driver’s instrument cluster. Both standard and GT Line models are now equipped with driver and optional front passenger seat height adjustability, helping front-seat occupants find their ideal position.

The Rio is the first KIA powered by a petrol mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powertrain. The new ‘EcoDynamics+’ powertrain combines KIA’s new ‘Smartstream’ 1.0-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine with KIA’s 48V MHEV system, maximising fuel efficiency with electric torque assistance and regenerative braking.

EcoDynamics+ has been engineered to deliver greater efficiency from internal combustion engines on the road, seamlessly deploying and recuperating electric power. The system supplements the engine’s torque output with power from a compact 48-volt lithium-ion polymer battery, and extends engine ‘off time’ with a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator (MHSG) unit. The MHSG is connected by belt to the engine’s crankshaft, and switches seamlessly between ‘motor’ and ‘generator’ modes. In ‘motor’ mode, under acceleration, the MHSG provides electric power assistance to reduce engine load and emissions. As the car decelerates, the MHSG has the ability under certain conditions to switch to ‘generator’ mode, recuperating energy from the crankshaft to recharge the battery.

The new Smartstream engine replaces the Rio’s earlier ‘Kappa’-generation 1.0-litre T-GDi, and is equipped with KIA’s advanced Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology, among a range of other innovations. CVVD enables the engine to switch seamlessly between different combustion cycles depending on load, maximising efficiency in all driving situations. The Smartstream engine produces the same power as the previous Kappa engine line – 74 kW or 88 kW – but enables 16% higher peak torque output for 88 kW variants (200 Nm).

Overall, the new EcoDynamics+ powertrain reduces the Rio’s CO2 emissions by between 8.1% and 10.7% (NEDC, combined cycle), and is offered on both 74 kW and 88 kW versions of the new engine. Both 48V powertrains will be equipped with a Drive Mode Select system, giving drivers the choice to customise their drive with ‘Eco’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Normal’ modes.

The Rio EcoDynamics+ is one of the first KIA’s to be equipped with the brand’s new intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT). The ‘clutch-by-wire’ system contributes to the MHEV system’s greater fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions, while retaining the driver engagement of a conventional manual transmission. Instead of a mechanical linkage, the iMT’s clutch is controlled purely electronically. It integrates seamlessly with the MHSG to switch off the engine when coasting to a halt, improving overall fuel efficiency.

KIA engineers have also upgraded the Rio’s Idle Stop & Go (ISG) system, in recognition of the car’s use in urban areas in markets around the globe. The new brake-linked ISG system offers additional fuel savings by switching off the engine when both the brake and clutch pedal are depressed as the car comes to a halt. The engine switches back on when both pedals are released and the car re-engages the driver’s selected gear. Previously the system was linked exclusively to the clutch. This small adjustment contributes to the Rio’s improved fuel economy and lower emissions.

The upgraded model is fitted with six airbags throughout the cabin, as well as ISOFIX child-seat tether and anchor points.