Kia could scrap diesel hybrid plans
News
23 Aug 2016
Kia is considering scrapping its planed hybrid diesel engine following the ‘dieselgate’ scandal, according to a report from Autocar.
The project was first introduced with the Optima T-Hyrbid at the 2014 Paris motor show, which featured a Hyundai-Kia 1.7 CRDi diesel engine that was boosted by a 48V electric supercharger.
While the project is still officially underway, Albery Bierman, head of Kia performance development, told Autocar that it is becoming hard to justify the development of more expensive diesel engines in the face of increasingly strict diesel emissions standards.
Bierman suggested that the research wouldn’t be wasted and that the system may be reengineered to operate with a petrol engine.
