Kia Ray Plug-In Hybrid: Previewing A Worthy Green Car Concept

The exterior and interior of the Kia Ray, like other concepts, are designed to impress and leave in your mind images of what might be. Kais says the exterior of this car, in particular, is “aircraft-inspired.” What that means is that it sports a body with a “lowered mono-volume shape and…curvaceous silhouette” for reportedly better aerodynamic properties. A piece of glass goes “from the cowl of the windshield to the rear header” to offer a more roomy feel and, substituting for side-view mirrors and door handles, flush mounted motion-detector cameras take the responsibility of issues like providing views for lane changing.

Also of interesting note on the exterior is the use of nano-laminate films and cool-glazing materials. These “reduce solar heat and demonstrate how keeping the interior cool will reduce air conditioning loads and greenhouse emissions.” And, as an added bonus, when the car is parked outside the integrated solar panels provide a slight charge to run a cooling fan to reduce interior temperatures.

Kia Ray

image via Kia

On the inside the Kia Ray, according to Kia, is designed to be “pure, lightweight, breathable and refreshing.” It consists of extensive recycled materials and is designed to reflect solar heat to keep the interior cooler. The cabin comes equipped with a touch screen instrument layout featuring touch screen push-button start and gear shift toggle. Personal entertainment options include the Kia UVO powered by Microsoft infotainment system, an audio array by Infinity Audio that comes with loudspeakers “that reduce power consumption and dissipation through lower self heating temperatures with increased acoustic performance” and a low-power amplifier.  And, in an added touch, a “lightweight and breathable mesh” is used throughout the interior to to “reduce overall curb weight as well as being a unique design element.”

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