Kia Motors America today launched NiroBot for Facebook Messenger to deliver instant access to product information for the all-new 2017 Niro, which is scheduled to begin arriving in showrooms soon.
Messenger is allegedly used by more than 1 billion consumers monthly, and those accessing the NiroBot for Messenger will get vehicle information, interior and exterior galleries, multimedia product overviews, lots of hype and the ability to schedule a test drive of the first Kia vehicle to make use of an all-new, dedicated eco-car platform. (Kia Niro Hybrid Claims 50 MPG Range)
“The all-new Niro is like nothing else on the road today, and kicking off our pre-launch strategy by breaking new ground with our bot for Messenger that will make the new car research process much easier and more efficient for shoppers,” claimed Kimberley Gardiner, director of marketing, KMA. “The user-friendly interface combines the experience of being in a showroom with the convenience and mobility today’s car buyers are looking for as users interact with the NiroBot at their own pace and focus on the specific areas that interest them most.”
The Niro joins the lineup of Kia’s so-called EcoDynamics environmentally friendly category with an aim to triple the brands global green car line-up by 2020. A plug-in hybrid powertrain is due to be added to the car’s line-up later in its life-cycle.
Styled at Kia’s design centers in California and Korea, the Niro has wide and low proportions with a long roofline and short overhangs that give it an athletic profile. Contours on the hood lend visual interest and, along with voluminous wheel arches, rocker cladding, roof rails, and rear skid plate. Actually, the mainstream design is a reversal of the expressive direction the Soul presented.
Interior roominess comes by way of the Niro’s 106.3-inch wheelbase, body height, and wide stance. Seats with increased pad density in the cushions aim to achieve a comfortable ride.
A 240-volt lithium ion battery is stored underneath the rear seats to increase cabin and cargo space and allow a flat load floor. Noise suppression comes from careful body sealing, and the use of expanding foam inside the A- and B-pillars. An acoustic windshield glass and carefully shaped side mirrors mitigate wind noise.
A new Kappa 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder engine marks the first combination of the Atkinson Cycle, cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), GDI and a long-stroke-narrow-bore specification. It’s dedicated to hybrid applications, A 43-horsepower electric motor is transmission-mounted and works in tandem with the gasoline engine to produce 146 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque.
Niro, like many Kia products, will come with blind spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, smart cruise control, lane departure warning and autonomous emergency braking.
