Love 'em or hate 'em ; they do make affordable cars, that everybody admits. And with the prices of hybrids getting nowhere closer to affordable, Kia has taken up the mantle todo what it does best. Create an affordable car, only this time its going to be an hybrid. Seen here is the Rio saloon which promises to be the first affordable petrol/electric car.

The production is programmed to start in 2009. The hybrid should cost around £12,500. Rio comes with an 88bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine that is linked to a 12kW electric motor which drives the front wheels through a CVT automatic gearbox. Plans have also been made for a 1.6-litre version with a 15kW motor. A top speed of a respectable 180 kmph and fuel consumption that comes to 5.29 litres per 100km make the Kia Rio really desirable.

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