Kia’s first production plug-in hybrid vehicle is here: meet the 2017 Optima PHEV
Unveiled alongside the 2017 Optima Hybrid and 2017 Niro at the Chicago Auto Show, the Optima Plug-in Hybrid offers an all-electric driving range of 27 miles and a total range of 600 miles.
The Optima PHEV features a 154 hp 2.0-liter "Nu" four-cylinder GDI engine, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, a transmission-mounted 50 kW electric motor, and a 9.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. According to Kia, the new battery produces roughly 60 percent more energy output than the battery pack found in the previous Optima Hybrid.
The result is a total driving range of 600 miles and an all-electric driving range of 27 miles, placing the Optima PHEV among the segment leaders. Combined CO2 emissions are expected to be at just 37 g/km (for the European-spec model).
Engineering enhancements also include a High Voltage Electric Oil Pump, which replaces the combination mechanical oil pump and low voltage electric pump found in the outgoing Optima Hybrid. As a result, the Optima PHEV has an expected engine efficiency improvement of more than 20 percent.
The battery system is also fed by the vehicle's improved Regenerative Braking System, which features a 10 percent increase in regenerative energy. Charging the battery pack takes less than three hours via a 240-V (Level 2) charger, and less than nine hours via a 120V (Level 1) charger.
From a styling point of view, the 2017 Optima PHEV offers similar features as the 2017 Optima Hybrid, including the active grille, model-specific front air curtain, a beveled rear bumper, a rear diffuser, and aerodynamic design for the alloys. LED lighting, chrome side sill molding, and "Eco Plug-In" badging round out the design upgrades. Aerodynamic updates result in a drag coefficient (Cd) of just 0.24, equal to the Tesla Model S.
Available exclusively in the EX trim, the Optima Plug-in Hybrid will be built in South Korea and will go on sale in North America and Europe in the fourth quarter of this year. Kia will announce prices closer to the on-sale date.