2017 Kia Optima PHEV Officially Unveiled

Originally published on EV Obsession.

The 2017 Kia Optima plug-in hybrid was officially unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show a few days ago, giving us some new insight into what we can expect with the model’s release later this year.

The specs for the 2017 Kia Optima plug-in hybrid (PHEV) are as follows: a 27-mile all-electric range (that’s the EPA rating), a 9.8 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery pack, a 154 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and a 50 kilowatt electric motor. The insides of the model are actually the same as those in the Hyundai Sonata PHEV.

The model can run in either all-electric mode, hybrid mode, or “charging mode” — which allows the battery to be recharged while burning gas, as one would expect. And the model possesses a drag coefficient of just 0.24 reportedly.

Here’s more information, via Green Car Reports:

That should be a good thing, as we’ve found the latest 2016 Kia Optima sedans to be far more comfortable and refined than their predecessors. Their supremely quiet ride, well-balanced ride-and-handling traits, and warmer, finely detailed interiors make the Optima lineup one of the best entries in its class.

…Optima PHEV models will offer an EV Services package that allows you to check the state of charge remotely, among other things. These models are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible — to control smartphone apps via the infotainment system — and the interface has been updated with Google Voice Recognition Local Search. A ten-speaker, 630-watt Harman/Kardon surround-sound audio system is available, as is a suite of active-safety and driver-assistance systems — including Autonomous Emergency Braking, which can bring the vehicle to a full stop to avoid a crash or reduce damage.

Release is currently expected to be sometime later this year, though no date has been revealed.

Reprinted with permission.