9 minute read
Motoring
NEXT GENERATION KIA NIRO
EWAN KENNEDY
Kia has provided information on its next generation Niro, telling us that it demonstrates the company’s rapid progress in becoming a global sustainable mobility solutions provider.
Based on the thirdgeneration platform, the a larger body to provide more interior space and storage capacity.
As is common in almost all new models the Niro’s dimensions have grown over its predecessor, with a length measuring 4,420mm, a width of 1,825mm, a height of 1,545mm, and a wheelbase of 2,720mm.
It will be offered powertrains with hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and battery electric options. The Niro’s front-end has the latest evolution of Kia’s signature Tiger Face, which extends from the bonnet to the fender below. It will have what Kia says are striking ‘heartbeat’ daytime running lights and a bold skid plate and cladding serve to enhance the vehicle’s rugged character.
The boomerang-shaped C-Pillars with the LED taillights are designed to give it a sporty stance.
All-new Kia Niro will have a high-tech 10.25-inch panoramic display screen that integrates the instrument cluster and infotainment features. The system has been designed to be easy to use with sharp graphics and an intuitive layout.
Below the centre screen is an integrated infotainment and climate control system that provide access to important controls without the need to scroll through multiple menus.
Many recycled materials are used inside the cabin. The headlining is made from recycled wallpaper, the seats are made from Bio PU with Tencel from eucalyptus leaves.
The all-new Niro will be launched with three hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid and battery electric.
The HEV features Kia’s is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine, with 77kW and 144 Nm. When combined with the 32kW permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, the HEV model produces a combined maximum power output of 104kW.
It will drive the front wheels through a secondgeneration six-speed dual-clutch automatic that has been optimised reduce weight.
Kia’s regenerative braking system enables drivers to choose from a series of regeneration levels to easily slow the car and recuperate kinetic energy to maximise driving range. Cleverly, the system can calculate the amount of regeneration required using radar and road gradient information.
The second-generation Niro includes a full complement of Kia’s DriveWise intelligent Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that are designed to avoid potential hazards and convenience behind the wheel.
Due for global market launch later this year, more information on the all-new Niro will be made available in due course.
Kia advises: “All data contained in this press release is subject to change, and certain tech features are available in Product details for each closer to start of sale.”
EWAN KENNEDY
Porsche is launching a new Platinum Edition of selected Cayenne models. This specialedition of the SUV is characterised by exclusive coordinated design elements in a satin Platinum paint additional standard equipment.
The result is a particularly stylish appearance. Platinum Editions are available for the Cayenne with a system output of 250 kW, Cayenne E-Hybrid with a system output of 340 kW and Cayenne S with a system output of 324 kW, as well as the corresponding Coupé variants. exclusive appearance of the Cayenne Platinum Edition is characterised by numerous model The inlays in the slats of the air intakes at the front, the Porsche lettering integrated in the LED rear light strip, the model designation at the rear and the standard 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, exclusively for the Platinum Edition, are all painted in this colour.
Sport tailpipes and side window trims in Black further emphasise the sporty, elegant look of the special series. Matching solid colours in White and Black, in Jet Black, Carrara White, Mahogany, Moonlight Blue and the special colour Crayon are available.
In the stylishly designed interior, Crayon seat belts and brushed Aluminium door entry sills with the ‘Platinum Edition’ logo add a special touch, as do the textured Aluminium interior package and Silvercoloured trims.
The Cayenne Platinum Edition also comes with extended standard equipment. This includes the panoramic roof system (already standard on the Coupé variants), BOSE Surround Sound system, ambient lighting with a choice of seven coloured light schemes, 18-way Adaptive sports seats with memory package
There is Porsche crest embossed on the front and rear headrests, seat belts in Crayon, and an analogue clock on the dashboard. In Australia the LED headlights including Porsche Dynamic Light System and privacy glass are already standard.
Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur also offers a options for the interior and exterior – from selective changes to
The Cayenne Platinum Edition is available to order now, with deliveries expected here in mid-2022.
AUSTRALIAN
PRICING:
Prices are recommended retail prices before statutory on-road and dealer delivery charges, which vary from State to State and between dealers. Driveaway pricing IS available via the Porsche Porsche.com.au.
Cayenne Platinum Edition: $145,000 Cayenne E-Hybrid Platinum Edition: $160,300 Cayenne S Platinum Edition: $172,400
Cayenne Coupé Platinum Edition: $145,500 Cayenne Coupé E-Hybrid Platinum Edition: $160,900 Cayenne Coupé S Platinum Edition: $172,800
HYUNDAI CLAIMS A NEW FRONTIER FOR THE PEOPLE MOVER WITH ITS AWARD-WINNING STARIA THE FUTURE’S IN THE STARIAS
DEREK OGDEN
If there were such a thing as automotive astrologers Hyundai would have claim to their effectiveness following wins for its Staria people mover, along with stablemate IONIQ 5 electric SUV, in the 2021 Good Design Awards.
Winning features, the company claims, include a strikingly futuristic look to the Staria exterior, reminiscent of a spaceship, while a single line from front to back recreates the curve of light that illuminates the Earth’s horizon at sunrise when viewed from space. You’ve got to hand it to those South Koreans.
A cruise ship-inspired interior focuses on driver convenience and passenger comfort, with traditional Korean ‘hanok’ architecture allowing occupants to feel as if the outside scenes are an extension of the vehicle interior.
Taking the place of the iMax in the Hyundai scheme of things, the Staria is engineered from the ground up on a dedicated platform shared with the Santa Fe.
Setting the Staria apart from rival people movers is the option of Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system at $20,000 below the people mover alternative. This is available with a 430 Nm 2.2 CRDi turbodiesel engine.
Front-wheel drive is left to a 200kW 3.5-litre MPi petrol engine. Both are mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Three spec levels are available – Staria, Elite and Highlander – starting at $48,500, plus on road costs, for Staria 3.5 petrol (automatic) FWD, rising to $66,500 for the Highlander 2.2 diesel AWD.
On test was the Staria Highlander 3.5-litre petrol auto front-wheel drive, at $63,500. All models come with a kilometre warranty, complimentary roadside assist for 12 months, 1500 km complimentary customer care centre and an exclusive owner website.
Owners servicing with Hyundai also receive a 10-year satellite navigation update plan, plus roadside support for up to ten years or more.
STYLING
Looking to the future, Hyundai says, the front of the Staria focuses on a wide body-coloured low-set LED headlights, with a horizontal LED strip above comprising a centre lamp and daytime running lights.
Panoramic side windows and 18-inch alloy wheels in steel grey extend to a large rear area of glass with integrated Staria logo. Vertical LED combination lights on either side are topped off by a spoiler with a built in high-mounted stop light and wiper.
INTERIOR
Lowered belt-lines and panoramic side windows improve all-round visibility and cre-ate a feeling of openness in the large cabin. The Highlander lets in even more light via a front and rear sunroof.
On the other hand, second and third row sunshades are on hand to block out unwant-ed glare and heat of the sun. Sliding second-row seats have long runners for easy ac-cess and a step and ‘walk-in’ device sliding function for the second row creates extra foot clearance for easy third row access.
Two USB-A charging ports for each rear row, along with 10 cup / bottle holders and second-row seatback storage pockets make for happy families on the road.
INFOTAINMENT
A 10.25-inch colour LCD instrument cluster includes a digital speedo, trip information, and visual warnings and system status updates from Hyundai SmartSense and other safety systems.
A 10.25-inch touchscreen sat nav multimedia unit is integrated into the top of the dash provides a clear view of navigation, audio and other info, including Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
Staria is offered with the choice and petrol and turbo-diesel engines, mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and front or all-wheel drive.
The 3.5-litre V6 produces 200 kW and 331 Nm and drives the front wheels, while the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel dishes up 130 kW and 430 Nm through an all-wheel drive system.
SAFETY
In addition to seven airbags – front, frontside, front-centre plus curtain bags on the A- and B-pillars – standard active safety across the range features include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian/ cyclist detection and junction assist, blindspot as-sist, lane-keep assist and lane following assist.
There’s also multicollision braking, driver inattention monitor, safe exit warning, rear surround view monitor. The Elite adds safe exit assist and 3-D view surround-view camera.
The range-topping Highlander incorporates a blind spot view monitor, which projects a live feed of what’s in the blind spot to the instrument cluster.
There are IsoFix child seat anchors on the outboard second-row seats, plus top-tether anchors. There are no anchors in the third row.
DRIVING
With such a difference in load characteristics over eight seats, fuel consumption could be expected to have ranged wildly around the maker’s claim of 10.5 litres per 100 kil-ometres on the combined urban / highway cycle. Our test vehicle used 12 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres on the motorway.
With all seats occupied, there is 831 litres of cargo space in the rear, while this can be expanded to a massive 1303 litres with the second and third row folded. Access is via power side sliding doors or ‘smart’ power tailgate, the latter that closes automatically when the smart key is no longer detected.
A selection of drive modes – Normal, Eco, Sport and Smart – offers a range of power-train responses to suit driving conditions. Eco and Sport are at either end of the per-formance spectrum, with Normal the balance between the two.
Smart mode works system to tailor Staria’s performance to their preferences. That’s clever.
The pandemic put paid to the usual input into the development of the Staria suspen-sion, as is the case with most new Hyundai vehicles. Something must have rubbed off on Korean counterparts for the Staria ride and handling are up to class-leading standards.
SUMMARY
The planets were aligned for the Staria to carry off the good design award, but will the revolutionary vehicle shine bright enough to show the way for people movers of the future? Only time will tell.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Hyundai Staria 3.5 (automatic) FWD $48,500 Hyundai Staria Elite 3.5 (a) FWD $56,500 Hyundai Staria Highlander 3.5 (a) FWD $63,500 Hyundai Staria 2.2 (a) AWD $51,500 Hyundai Staria Elite 2.2 (a) AWD $59,500 Hyundai Staria Highlander 2.2 (a) AWD $66,500 Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Hyundai dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS
(Hyundai Staria Highlander 3.5L V6 petrol, 8sp automatic, FWD)
ENGINE:
cylinders in V kW @ 6400 rpm 331 Nm @ 5000 rpm RON Combined Fuel Cycle L/100km CO2 Emissions 188 g / km
DRIVELINE: Eightspeed dual automatic, front-wheel drive
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
metres
BRAKES:
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years / unlimited kilometres
