Earlier this week, Kia announced its version of a three-cylinder engine dubbed the Kappa engine.
While the engine is set to go on sale later this year in Europe, Kia Motors America (KMA) has not yet announced a set date for the engines to be place in cars to be sold in the United States, Car and Driver believes it will be “sooner rather than later.” Models that could see the Kappa in the future, according to Car and Driver, are the Kia Rio, Forte and Soul.
Further details about the motor have been revealed including horsepower and torque. The Kappa engine kicks out 118 horsepower and 127 lb.-ft. of torque that features a single-scroll turbo; peak power hits at 6,000 rpm. The Kappa also utilizes a pair of thermostats, allowing the block and head to be cooled independently of each other.
New for Kias would be the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Diesel variants of some European Kias will have the new automatic transmission that can handle up to 221 lb.-ft. of torque. Car and Driver guesses that the Optima may be the first U.S. Kia model to take advantage of the DCT.
Stay tuned to Jim Butler Kia in Chesterfield Valley’s blog for more information and updates on this engine and other Kia model news.
Great models such as the Optima, Rio, Forte and more are available from Jim Butler Kia of Chesterfield Valley’s inventory. To learn more about our Kia models, call us today at 888-392-6606. As your St. Louis Kia dealer, we invite you to check out our new Kias in person at our Chesterfield dealership. If you’re in the St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur or Maryland Heights area, stop by our lot at 722 Long Road Crossing in Chesterfield. Here at Jim Butler Kia, you can make your Sorento, K900 and Soul purchases with confidence. We are located in Chesterfield, Mo., and serve as your St. Louis, Chesterfield Valley, Creve Coeur and Maryland Heights Kia dealer.
