It had to happen. While Kia has been garnering praise for its small car line-up, the one area of criticism has been that of powertrains, but that will soon change.
At the Geneva Motor Show next week the Korean firm will launch an all-new 1,0-litre T-GDi (turbo gasoline direct injection) ‘Kappa’ engine.
The first car to benefit from this new powerplant will be the new cee’d GT Line range. Tuned for this model the engine develops maximum power of 90 kW at 6 000 r/min and 172 N.m of torque, the latter from 1 500 to 4 000 r/min. While this will be the first, it won’t be the last as Kia plans to roll this engine out in several new models.
An innovation of the new engine is the single -scroll turbocharger that is paired with an electrically actuated wastegate. The wastegate scavenges clean air for the engine to re-use for combustion.
Kia South Africa has confirmed to CAR that this engine will be be introduced into the local market. However the company’s spokesperson was unable to confirm when exactly we’re likely to experience it here, or in which product it will be employed first.
