Kia introduced the EcoDynamics

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In 2009, Kia introduced the EcoDynamics programme to their model range – the sub-brand highlights Kia's commitment to manufacture good value, practical cars with reduced environmental impact.



EcoDynamics is a green umbrella for a range of technologies. Ultimately it will lead to alternative-fuel cars with zero tailpipe emissions, a process that is already under-way. Battery electric Kias will be emerging as early as 2012 and already the company has its first hybrid on sale in some markets.

But the biggest impact will come about through radical improvements to the economy and emissions of cars with petrol and diesel engines, which Kia believe will continue to be the dominant power source for at least the next two decades.

Kia has significantly invested in new engines, transmissions, materials and technologies. Efficiency has to be designed in from the start, so it is with the new Rio featuring an advanced three-cylinder diesel delivering up to 88.3 mpg whilst being the cleanest internal combustion engine in the world, emitting just 85g/km of CO2.

Kia's first EcoDynamics model, the cee'd, was launched in 2009. It came with a start-stop system to cut off the engine when the car is stationary in traffic and restart it again when the driver is ready to move off.

Manual versions also advise the driver of the most fuel-efficient points to shift gear. These features have appeared on selected versions of almost every Kia launched since. Together, they can achieve fuel savings of 10-15%.



Every new model seems to be accompanied by the introduction of smaller and more fuel-efficient engines. The latest addition to the range has been the Picanto, with either a 1.0- or 1.25-litre Kappa petrol engine to choose from.

A turbocharged version of the 1.0-litre was displayed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, and is scheduled to start appearing in various models in 2012.

And the all-new Rio has a 1.1 CRDi engine capable of 85g/km CO2. In every case, lower CO2 emissions have been achieved at the same time as greater performance.

Kia is also working on a double-clutch transmission to deliver the convenience of an automatic with even better fuel economy than a manual.

And it has developed its own continuously variable transmission for hybrid vehicles, which is cutting fuel consumption by 7% compared with a conventional automatic.

The company has set itself the target of making its entire range 10% lighter by 2015, which would bring about a 3.2% reduction in fuel consumption. Lightweight materials will replace steel where it is feasible, and the number of parts will be reduced.

An Active Eco system that deters unnecessary acceleration by restricting engine torque in certain circumstances is under development, as is a Smart Cruise Control that can brake and accelerate the car as well as maintain a set speed. Both are showing promising fuel consumption improvements.

And just to show that fuel-saving need not be po-faced, Kia EcoDynamics engineers have developed a system that rates how efficiently you are driving on a scale of zero to eight.

Reach eight and a flower symbol appears on the dashboard. Maintain that over a period of time and the flower becomes a bouquet. http://www.nextgreencar.com/news-item.php?Kias-green-technology-advancements, Retrieved from online on 11/12/2011. Return from Kia introduced the EcoDynamics to Green Cars.