Kia Motors unveils hybrid car

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest
automaker, unveiled Tuesday a hybrid version of its recently released Forte
compact car, featuring high-end lithium-ion battery technology.
Kia and its parent Hyundai Motor Co., which have no commercial hybrid models, are
stepping up their efforts to bring hybrid cars to the market in response to high
gas prices and an increasing premium on fuel efficiency in the U.S.
The Forte hybrid, which runs on both liquid petroleum gas and electricity, shows
"Kia's new strategy for eco-friendly management," the automaker said in a
statement.
Equipped with a 1.6-liter gas-powered engine and a lithium-ion battery, the Forte
hybrid runs 17.2 kilometer per liter with 114 horsepower at its peak, Kia said.
Convention hybrid cars, including Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius, use nickel-metal
hydride batteries. Experts say lithium-ion batteries would allow automakers to
significantly cut costs in building hybrid cars.
Hyundai plans to begin selling its first hybrid in the U.S. market as early as
2010, the company said earlier.
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