Kia's Aero-Soul takes advantage of the wind, reduces fuel consumption
Click above for a high-res image gallery of the wind-powered Kia Soul
Kia has finally seen the light wind and will be offering a new Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line system option for the Soul (above), starting today. The system reduces fuel consumption by capturing energy from the wind passing by the car to provide extra forward momentum or to act as a type of parachute to slow the car down. Kia says this option can make its cars greener - in Kia's tests, the system reduced fuel consumption by up to 25 percent in windy weather - without adding too much to the vehicle's cost. Current Kia owners needn't worry, since Kia will offer the system as a bolt-on pack for those interested (but prices have not yet been announced). Initially available on the Soul, the Air Propulsion system will soon be available on all Kia vehicles. More details available after the jump.
Gallery: Kia Air Soul
[Source: Kia]
PRESS RELEASE:
KIA UNVEIL DRAMATIC WIND-ASSISTED AERO-SOUL
In a dramatic move aimed at delivering environmental benefits without expensive technology Kia has revealed its new Aero-Soul concept that reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions with a simple and low-cost system called Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line.
Although unveiled on the company's stylish and fun cross-over Soul the patented system can be easily extended to all the company's vehicles and will even be available as a bolt-on accessory for vehicles already in use.
The system relies on small sensors built into the front and rear bumpers which monitor external wind speed and deploy panels when the wind is sufficient to provide additional directional impetus according to the car's behaviour.
So at cruising speeds if the wind behind the car is strong – such as in winter gales – the panels will harness wind power to provide forward motion. If the car is slowing or under braking the panels will deploy to provide additional retardation effort. Additionally a small electrically powered baffle can be lowered just behind the exhaust pipe under harsh braking to provide the kind of "reverse-thrust" normally associated with aircraft during landing – this element will only be available as a factory-fitted device.
Systems Manager Avril Babo at Kia's Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, south of Seoul said: "The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn't cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road.
"Tests of this system at our Nong Dam facility have shown that during windy weather fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent and emissions by anything up 40 per cent. Even in calm weather using the system simply under braking can result in reductions of 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. In perfect conditions – downhill with a following wind fuel use and exhaust gasses can be reduced to almost zero! Plus, brake-pad life can be extended by anything up to 50 per cent depending on driver behaviour, she added.
The new A.P.R.I.L. system will be available on all vehicles ordered after midnight on March 31, 2010 and the accessory pack will be available the following day. Prices will be announced in due course.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
matthijs 8:03AM (4/01/2009)
Nice one for April fools! :P
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bart 8:23AM (4/01/2009)
I like it better when it's subtle ;-)
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Level 5 8:36AM (4/01/2009)
Also plows snow! LOLZ!
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hans 7:40PM (4/01/2009)
ha ha april fools
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PabloKoh 9:13AM (4/01/2009)
You got me. Very funny.
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Sam 9:16AM (4/01/2009)
I feel duped
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House of Mirth 9:51AM (4/01/2009)
I WANT IT!! HOW MUCH??
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derek Jones 10:26AM (4/01/2009)
Nice License Plate. ;-)
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jake 5:08PM (4/01/2009)
Somebody might want to tell these guys:
http://www.carpages.co.uk/kia/kia-soul-01-04-09.asp
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John Rowell 1:18PM (4/01/2009)
I wonder if it eats roadkill too :s
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WJ Lee 7:44PM (4/02/2009)
The system manager's name is Babo. Babo means fool in korean.
The new system's name is A.P.R.I.L.
So, it is april fools hahaha
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andrew 9:04PM (4/03/2009)
that's not funny..i just wasted 10 minutes reading and speculating....
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Don 12:52AM (4/17/2009)
If it took anyone more than 5 seconds to figure it was a con they should not be allowed to drive.
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