Automotive Engineering - April 2024 - 14

ROAD READY
2025 Kia Carnival MPV Hybrid brings unplugged PHEV power
The 2025 Kia Carnival MPV is acquiring
a hybrid powertrain as part of the minivan's
model year update that debuted
at the Chicago Auto Show. The internal-combustion
engine option remains
the 3.5-L V6 GDI seen in the current
Carnival and produces 287 hp and 260
lb-ft (353 Nm) that powers the front
wheels through an 8-speed automatic
transmission. Engine power is down
slightly from the output of the V6 in
the 2024 model (290 hp and 262 lb-ft
[355 Nm]).
It's the addition of an electric motor
to the new hybrid model where things
get interesting. The hybrid Carnival uses
a 1.6-L turbocharged 4-cyl. and a 54 kW
motor that produce a combined 242 hp
and 271 lb-ft (367 Nm). The Carnival
Hybrid MPV uses a 6-speed automatic
transmission. Improved fuel economy is
one reason for the new hybrid option.
While Kia doesn't yet have official EPA
estimates, a spokesperson told SAE
Media that the target is 32 mpg combined.
The current ICE-only Carnival
gets 22 mpg.
The revised 7- or 8-passenger
Carnival receives additional benefits
from the hybrid system. Using a unique
54-kW electric motor that was initially
The 2025 Kia Carnival
during its debut at the
2024 Chicago Auto Show.
developed for plug-in hybrid powertrains
using the same platform -
such as the Sorento PHEV - the motor
is used not just to enhance acceleration
at lower speeds but also for some
of the Carnival's chassis-control functions.
" E-Handling " uses the electric
motor braking power to improve cornering
agility and stability. E-Evasive
Handling Assist helps control load
movement on the front and rear
wheels during emergency steering for
better evasion performance. Finally,
E-Ride improves ride comfort by automatically
adjusting damping as the
vehicle goes over bumps.
" It's all because you have an electric
motor, " the Kia spokesperson said. " It's
able to apply the capabilities of electric
motor differently. If you're going over a
speed bump with the front wheels, it
can use electric braking to slow the
front wheels. It can also use the drive
motor to accelerate when the rear
wheels are going over the bump. This
way, overall ride comfort is smoothed. "
The new Carnival MPV will come with
standard Forward Collision Avoidance
(FCA) Assist as well as available options
that build off of the FCA technology,
such as Junction Crossing (FCA-JC),
Lane-change Oncoming (FCA-LO),
Lane-change Side (FCA-LS); and
Evasive Steering Assist (FCA-ESA). The
updated minivan will also come with
Kia's Highway Driving Assist 2, a navigation-based
smart cruise control and
Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA).
The Carnival hybrid also gets excluFor
2025, the Kia Carnival gets a new hybrid powertrain using an electric motor originally designed
for PHEV models.
14 April 2024
sive aerodynamic 17-inch (432-mm)
wheels and offers three levels of regenerative
braking controlled by a paddleshift
lever. The 2025 Kia Carnival is expected
to go on sale in the middle of
this summer.
Sebastian Blanco
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
FROM TOP: SEBASTIAN BLANCO, KIA

Automotive Engineering - April 2024

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