Design isn't just about safety. Design isn't just about asthetics. Design isn't just about performance. It's about all these things, and more.
Our commitment to design is such that we hope when you look at Kia, you'll recognize it instantly as a quality, efficient, safe vehicle with Modern, clean lines and bold, aggressive touches. The distinct tiger nose grille. An aesthetic that's both playful and considered-that's Kia.
Our modern vehicles feature diverse electronic systems befitting the information age and offer greater safety features than ever before. Modern Kia vehicles truly are "smart cars" with info-tainment systems will also offer the latest electronic technologies and equipment so that driving will be more comfortable and enjoyable, as well as safer and more efficient.
Our Kia Models are created in a state-of-the-art digital world, and are put through multiple simulation analysis tests and installation evaluation through a 3-D digital design process to review any possible problems in advance. This process greatly optimizes engineering design and minimizes development times, costs, and new-car-rollout delays.
Design
Body structure design
The body structure acts much like the skeleton in a human body, providing the basic framework for driving parts like the engine and chassis, as well as various convenience systems. We consider all of the qualities required of a car, such as strength, crash resistance, aerodynamics, quietness, fuel efficiency and space, when designing a car that is safe, comfortable, fast and economical.
Functional design & modern features
A vehicle's exterior and interior are designed with a focus on providing a pleasant, comfortable and safe environment for passengers. A new technology called adaptive headlamps involves low-beam bulbs swiveling left and right in response to the steering wheel so that they illuminate where the driver is looking rather than straight ahead. Additionally, the lamps move up and down in consideration of the number of passengers and vehicle yaw.
Analysis
NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) analysis
To control vibration and noise levels encountered during driving, we analyze the causes of vibration and characteristics of how vibrations are relayed to vehicle occupants. Reduction of these factors takes place using computer simulation two to three years before an actual car is made. After several engineering design proposals are examined, an optimal solution is selected and a prototype car is produced. To minimize noise and vibration during driving, we identify their points of origin and then try to eliminate the root causes. This process is conducted with the help of computerized technologies up to three years before the first prototype vehicles are built. Once all conceivable sources of noise and vibration have been isolated, we can then begin manufacturing the first prototypes. All of this happens for every single Kia vehicle on the road today!
Durability analysis
A virtual car model is created to obtain quantitative data on the load that is transferred from the road surface to the car body while driving. Based on the load predictions on the body and suspension, we conduct detailed modeling and durability analysis which enable us to pinpoint weak areas and execute durability assessment studies.
Ergonomics Package
Package layout refers to the series of engineering works required to efficiently form and arrange key elements of a vehicle, taking various conditions into consideration. In sum, it deals with realizing concepts from the entire development process, from the design concept stage to mass production, into a technically concrete format. The process is aimed at maximizing customer comfort and convenience by achieving optimal space, field of visibility, comfort, maneuverability, storage, assembly, and maintenance convenience.
Best-in-Class Powertrains
We realized automotive independence by developing the first Korea-designed Alpha engine and transmission in 1991. In 2004, it achieved another milestone by developing Korea's first export engine, the Theta World engine. In 2006, we developed our class-leading 3.0L V6, the S-engine, to power the Mohave. It doesn't end there, either. With the Tau 4.6L engine named one of Ward's 10 Best Engines in 2008 and our R-passenger diesel engine becoming the first Korean engine to be Euro 5-compliant and Seoul metropolitan area low emission vehicle certified, Kia's engine technology is receiving accolades at home and abroad.
Environmentally Friendly Exhaust In response to increasingly stringent regulations on exhaust emissions, the Powertrain Center is stepping up its efforts to develop technologies that raise fuel efficiency, lighten vehicle weight, lower friction and improve driving power. Additionally, the Center is working on development of powertrains for hybrid electric vehicle.
Engine Downsizing
What do we mean "Downsizing?" That's a bad thing, right? No, not when we're talking about engines! The goal of downsizing is reducing the size and weight of powertrains while maintaining or improving performance. A large engine is powerful but has poor fuel economy, while a small engine has good fuel performance but falls behind in terms of power.
We present the latest in engine downsizing technologies using K5 (Optima) and Sportage R as examples. In a GDI engine, fuel is injected directly into the cylinders, maximizing the air supply to the engine and enhancing performance.
GDI prevents knock (pinging), thereby raising thermal efficiency by 2-3%. It also adjusts the timing of fuel injection, minimizing the emission of harmful exhaust gases that occurs when the engine is first ignited. K5, equipped with the Theta GDI engine, satisfies Korea's 09EM regulations and the strengthened requirements to qualify as a partial zero emission vehicle (PZEV) in North America. It outperforms its competitors with 201-horsepower output and has a high fuel economy of 13.0 km/h. The application of GDI engine technology will be expanded to newly-released models.
Transmission Enhancements
Our hybrid-specific continuously variable transmission (CVT) is designed to eliminate transmission shock and optimize fuel economy. Featuring a starter clutch and a high-efficiency oil pump, the hybrid CVT is 7% more fuel-efficient than existing automatic transmissions. We replaced the German-made transmission in the Pride (Rio) Hybrid with our own hybrid CVT, found also in the Forte LPi Hybrid. Our hybrid CVT has laid a solid foundation for the development of proprietary Kia technologies and raised cost competitiveness by replacing an imported component.
Technologies for Sustainability
Fuel economy regulations and policies are being strengthened around the world. The Korean government has decided to gradually lower average fuel economy and CO2 emissions ceilings to 17. 0km/ and 140 g/km, respectively. The United States announced that it will strengthen its fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks by 37% (37.8 mpg) and 25% (28.8 mpg), respectively, by 2016.
We are committed to realizing the kind of sustainability everyone can partake in through the downsizing technologies presented in this section and through technologies for future-oriented vehicles that will transform the paradigm of internal combustion engines. Technologies for going Lightweight
Kia Motors is carrying out R&D toward the goal of making our cars 10% lighter than they currently are by 2015. What does weight matter? Well, a 10% reduction in weight results in enhancements of 3.2% in fuel economy, 8.5% in acceleration performance and 19% in steering wheel maneuverability. The vehicle also becomes 1.6 times more durable and emits 3.2% less CO2. To lighten the vehicle body, steel is replaced by aluminum alloy, resin and other lighter materials; the number of parts is reduced through the adoption of modules; and unnecessary weight is minimized through design optimization. Research into the use of lighter materials is focused on decreasing the thickness and weight of the materials while maintaining performance and durability.
What are some other key Kia technologies?
ISG (Idle Stop & Go) ISG shuts down the engine when the car comes to a stop after having reached speeds of 8 km/h or higher. The engine immediately reignites when the car recieves an acceleration command. ISG raises fuel economy and cuts emissions by minimizing unnecessary fuel consumption by 10-15% on city roads, which demand stop-and-go driving.
Active Eco System The Active Eco System proactively controls parts of the engine, transmission and air condition system to realize optimal fuel economy. The Active Eco System raises fuel economy by minimizing fuel consumption from unnecessary acceleration, limiting the torque from rising when accelerating and optimizing the AC compressor's duration of operation. Tests show that the Active Eco System enhances fuel economy by around 11%.
Eco Driving Point The Eco Driving Point system rates the fuel-economy status of a vehicle on a scale of 0 to 8. When the rating reaches 8, an image of a blooming flower appears on the dashboard. If the level-8 status is maintained for a set period of time, the flower turns into a bouquet. Eco driving points accumulate, so the driver can check just how fuel-efficient his/her driving is with this whimsical function.
Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) ASCC is the next-generation version of the existing radar-based cruise control function that helps maintain a safe distance with the vehicle ahead. ASCC goes a step further and even detects the stopping and restarting movements of the vehicle in front to automatically brake or restart the car. The car goes on automatic drive when the driver turns on the ASCC function, sets the desired speed and takes his/her foot off the accelerator. When ASCC detects a vehicle ahead, it activates the brake to maintain a safe distance. When the vehicle ahead stops or restarts, ASCC automatically stops and restarts the car accordingly.
