12 Sep 07
Kia's planning an environmentally friendly version of the Pro_cee'd, the three-door sister model to the Cee'd small family five-door hatchback. The Eco_cee'd is fitted with Kia's 1.6-litre, 115bhp diesel engine but revised for reduced fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions - down to 72.4mpg and 104g/km.
Improved aerodynamics have played an important role, and Kia has also fitted a stop-start system that automatically shuts the engine down when idling, and a regenerative braking system to recapture the energy otherwise lost under deceleration. Expect this to appear in production Kias in the near future, and for the Eco_cee'd to go on sale next year - in time to qualify for the revised London congestion charge exemption, as well as band B road tax.
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