Kia teases all-new small SUV

Kia has teased sketches of an all-new hybrid-powered small SUV to rival the Mazda CX-3.

Called the Niro, the new small SUV will sit above the current Soul but below the bigger Sportage in Kia’s SUV line-up.

Said to be designed by the Korean car-maker’s design centres in California, USA, and Namyang, Korea, the Niro carries the traditional 'tiger-nose' grille and is said to have been created to provide occupants with the most interior space possible.

Under the skin the Niro is built around what Kia claims is an all-new platform specially engineered for maximum efficiency.

This means the Niro will return sub-90g/km CO2 emissions on the New European Driving Cycle and have class-leading fuel consumption thanks to a new hybrid powertrain, claims engineers.

Based around the firm’s ‘Kappa’ direct injection 77kW/147Nm 1.6-litre petrol, the new hybrid also incorporates a 32kW electric motor that’s powered by a 1.56kWh lithium-polymer battery. Both electric and conventional combustion engine are driven through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Later on a plug-in hybrid powertrain will be added to the Niro range to rival Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV.

Arriving late in 2016 it’s almost certain the Niro will come here, but it’s not known when.

The Niro will be the beginning of Kia’s ambitious plan to nearly triple the number of electrified cars it sells by 2020, raising the number of current pure-electric and hybrid cars it makes from four to more than eleven.

It’s thought the production version of the Kia Niro will be unveiled either early 2016 at the Detroit motor show or, possibly, a month later in February at the Chicago show.