Kia unveils hybrid at Chicago show

Kia Executive Vice President Michael Sprague, left, and design center America’s Tom Kearns pose next to the Kia Cross GT at the Chicago Auto Show. [NEWSIS]

Kia Motors, Korea’s second-largest automaker, said Friday that it has unveiled a concept car of its large hybrid crossover vehicle at the Chicago Auto Show as it looks into offering a full-size luxury crossover.

The Cross GT - 8.4 inches longer, 4.9 inches wider and 1.6 inches shorter than Kia’s award-winning Sorento - features Kia’s signature grille and cuts an imposing figure.

“The debut of the GT in 2011 heralded a new frontier for Kia, both from a design and a business perspective,” Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Corporation president and global chief of design, said in a statement released by Kia.

“It beautifully illustrated to the world that the brand was ready to explore the possibility of perhaps one day offering a full-size rear-drive luxury saloon,” the president said. “The Cross GT, with its raised stance and large cargo area, allows us to envision the GT in the form of a full-size luxury crossover.”

The four-door car is powered by an efficient hybrid powertrain that utilizes a state-of-the-art 3.8-liter V6 hybrid, 8-speed automatic and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive, according to the company.

It also said the hybrid powertrain looks to reduce the vehicle’s carbon footprint while providing the uncompromising performance that’s expected of a large, luxury crossover.

“While strictly a concept powertrain, Kia’s proven hybrid technology, combined with all-wheel drive are thought-provoking ideas that may one day find their way into a production vehicle,” Kia said in the statement.

Yonhap