According to The Korea Economic Daily, a South Korean economic newspaper, Hyundai-Kia will add hybrid engines to many models, including the Seltos. Kia Seltos hybrid is expected to be launched in 2025.
Consumers are looking forward to the introduction of the new generation Kia Seltos with the option of a hybrid engine. Illustrative image: Kia dealer
This information is noteworthy because Kia executives have previously denied the possibility of using hybrid engines for the current Seltos. If the information from The Korea Economic Daily is accurate, the Kia Seltos hybrid could be launched together with the new generation next year. A 6-year update cycle seems reasonable. The fact that the Seltos was introduced in 2019 indicates a high likelihood of the new generation coming with new engine variants.
There is currently no official confirmation from Kia and The Korea Economic Daily does not provide detailed specifications. However, there is a possibility that the Kia Seltos will share the hybrid engine with the Hyundai Kona distributed in Europe, combining a 1.6L 4-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor for a power output of 139 horsepower and a torque of 264 Nm.
In addition to the Seltos, Hyundai-Kia also plans to equip hybrid engines for Genesis models such as the G80 and GV70 next year. Meanwhile, this year, Hyundai Palisade being tested in Korea is also rumored to use a hybrid engine.
Image of Hyundai Palisade being tested in Korea is believed to use a hybrid engine, as Autospy captures images of the orange-colored electrical cables placed under the floor of the car, indicating hybrid or electric technology. Photo: Drive, Autospy
This addition is believed to strengthen the hybrid product line, which is recording strong growth in sales. In the US, the hybrid sales of Kia and Hyundai have increased significantly in January 2024 compared to the same period last year, corresponding to 51% and 41%, respectively.
This addition will enrich the product line equipped with hybrid engines from the South Korean conglomerate. Currently, this engine is available on Hyundai Sonata, Grandeur, Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Kia K5, K8, Niro, Sportage, Sorento, and Carnival models, depending on the market.
Hyundai-Kia is not the only company investing in hybrids. Jaguar Land Rover and General Motors are reported to have plans to enhance their hybrid product line. Honda has made progress with the new Civic hybrid. Toyota, on the other hand, has achieved a major success with hybrid car sales reaching 3.4 million units in 2023.
