This Crossover Could Be Kia’s First Dedicated Hybrid

For the second time in recent months, we’ve come across Kia’s mystery

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by John Halas

October 7, 2015 at 22:09

For the second time in recent months, we’ve come across Kia’s mystery crossover prototype on European soil.

Captured in the Austrian Alps towing another Kia model – we’re unsure if this was for testing or practical purposes, it has shed some of the heavier disguise on the front revealing a face that seems to borrow elements from China’s KX3 and the global 2016 Sportage.

It’s still unclear what model it previews, but it was recently suggested that it might be Kia’s rumored first dedicated hybrid car, which if true, means it will share its underpinnings and powertrain with sister-company Hyundai’s own Prius-fighter that has a design reminiscent of the Chevrolet Volt and is expected next year.

Hyundai’s as-of-yet unnamed model is believed to draw power from a 1.6-liter gasoline engine mated to an electric motor, offering both regular and plug-in hybrid variants, with an all-electric version, also under discussion.

It would make sense for the Koreans to split development costs between two models positioned in different sub-segments, with Hyundai to go after the Toyota Prius and the Chevrolet Volt, and Kia to test the waters for a dedicated hybrid compact crossover, but we’ll need to gather more information to be sure.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops