Waters AutoPlanet Give Motorists A Taste Of Things To Come

· Electric POP concept to headline Kia’s Paris Motor Show stand

· Kia’s commitment to sustainable transport in special ‘green zone’

· Kia’s EcoDynamics models to cut CO2 to as low as 94 g/km

“Kia’s future is extremely exciting,” explains Brett Kavanagh, Marketing Manager, Waters AutoPlanet. “The line up for the Paris Motor Show gives Chingford, St Albans and Tunbridge Wells residents just a taster of what’s to come at our dealership. We know that customers are concerned about their environmental impact but there is limited choice in the motoring industry for anyone to make real impact while owning a car that is stylish, practical and good value. We’re delighted that we’ll be able to offer such green credentials with Kia.”

Kia’s 2010 Paris Motor Show stand will major on striking design and new technologies. Taking centre stage and making its world premiere will be the eye-catching, compact and unique electric POP concept, designed by Kia’s European design team under the direction of Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer, and Gregory Guillaume, Kia Europe’s Chief Designer.

“A concept car like the POP could only have come from us,” explains Gregory Guillaume. “Designers very rarely have the opportunity to start from a clean sheet of paper and it’s great to be in a position to operate with such freedom.”

To showcase its EcoDynamics range of fuel-saving vehicles, Kia Motors is displaying three new ‘ultra-low’ CO2 models in its ‘Green Zone’ at the Paris Motor Show. The innovative trio, Eco cee’d, Eco Venga and Sportage (Mild Hybrid), have significantly reduced CO2 emissions – down to just 94, 114 and 117 g/km respectively.

The Eco cee’d five-door hatchback is a concept car powered by a modified version of Kia’s ‘U2’ family 1.4-litre diesel engine. Cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient, this engine generates 90 ps at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 240 Nm is available from just 1,900 rpm, for excellent driveability.

The car also features Kia’s fuel-stretching ISG Start/Stop system – which automatically switches off and then restarts the engine in congested city driving – optimised gear ratios and a large underbody panel beneath the 4.26-metre long car’s to smooth its aerodynamics. Its CO2 rating is 94 g/km.

Intended for production later this year, the new Eco Venga is also equipped with Kia’s 1.4-litre, 75 ps diesel engine, plus many of the technologies from the Eco cee’d concept. In addition, low-friction engine oil, special low-torque taper roller bearings in the transmission and low-rolling resistance, high pressure tyres help to reduce CO2 emissions to 114 g/km.

Kia’s second eco concept car for Paris is the Sportage Mild Hybrid. Based on the all-new Sportage compact SUV now on sale across Europe, this model is powered by the new, larger 1.7-litre version of the U2 diesel. Small changes cut aerodynamic drag, brake drag and tyre resistance so the SUV’s CO2 rating is a modest 117 g/km.

For more information Waters Kia can be contacted on 0845 871 7014 for Chingford or 0845 871 5085 for St Albans and AutoPlanet Kia can be contacted on 0845 871 7134 for Tunbridge Wells.