Kia is following the current trend of revealing new concept cars in piece-by-piece stages, with images of their latest hybrid concept, Ray, being released and which will make its debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show next month.
The previously released image of the Ray’s rear end showed off the stunning one-piece rear LED light and muscular haunches, and next to be concentrated on is the nose, as these latest photos on the of the concept show. Complimenting the unusual lighting on the rear of the car, are the thin swept-back headlight and stylish lower fog lights. To finish off the futuristic design of the car, the Ray will also feature a roof constructed of solar panels.
The actual concept will contribute towards Kia’s ongoing development of alternative-fuel vehicles and will form the centre-stage set-up for Kia Motors America display at Chicago. There is also the possibility that European crowds will get their chance to see it at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Ray concept has been styled by a team at Kia Design Centre America, and was undertaken to demonstrate how Kia’s evolving design direction would be applied in the packaging of a plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Kia has already pioneered potentially real-life fuel cell vehicles and has working prototypes operating in California and Korea. They also have various hybrid-engined vehicles providing real-world data in various locations and plans to commercialese Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) hybrid vehicles in Korea within the next 12 months.
On-road testing of petrol and diesel hybrid vehicles is due to start in the UK this year, however there are currently no set dates for hybrid Kia models to be put on sale in Europe.
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