Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid Arriving in 2016

The Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid has been confirmed and will arrive in the second half of 2016.

The Korean automaker has announced its plans to equip the new Optima range with more fuel-efficient hybrid models, including a plug-in variant with the ability to travel up to 27 miles on electric power alone. The next-generation Optima PHEV will feature a 9.8-kWh lithium-polymer battery pack that has roughly six times the energy output of what’s currently in the Optima Hybrid. Paired to a 50-kW electric motor that is 42 percent more powerful than the previous Optima hybrid, the plug-in hybrid powertrain will also feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder GDI engine with 154 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. Combined system output is expected to be around 202 hp.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Kia Optima Review

Based on internal testing conducted by Kia, the Optima PHEV is expected to deliver a 99-MPGe combined rating in the U.S. with engineers targeting a 40-mpg combined rating in charge-sustaining mode. Like other plug-in hybrid models available today, the Kia Optima PHEV will have styling changes to differentiate it from the rest of the Optima lineup. Those aesthetic changes include a charging port on the driver-side front panel, chrome side sill moldings, new wheel designs and “EcoPlug-In” badging. Inside, the model will have a distinctive instrument cluster, and a charge indicator on the top of the dash that allows drivers to easily see the state of charge from outside the vehicle.

In announcing the Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid, the Korean automaker also revealed that the upcoming new Optima Hybrid will see a boost in fuel economy by 10 percent. Kia also plans on improving average fuel efficiency of its models by 25 percent compared to 2014 by 2020.

Discuss this story on our Kia Optima Forum