Autovolt Magazine

economy

Kia Optima PHEV

Wk9. Motorway EV driving

On a particularly cold summer evening, I decided to put the electric range of the Kia Optima PHEV (Optima Prime) to the test. It has always stated 31-miles on the display, although I’ve managed to eke 32-miles with relative ease after driving carefully and at town speeds up to 30mph. In traffic or urban driving

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Kia Optima PHEV Filling up

Wk8. 1,000 miles, 93.1mpg

I have finally covered 1,000 miles in ‘Optima Prime’ (Kia Optima PHEV) and I’m impressed. Passing the milestone took a while to reach, partly because I have access to other cars and partly because my daily commute is only 12-miles. Coincidentally, the car had its first fuel fill since brand new too, which was an

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Kia Optima PHEV

Wk3. Electrifying sound

One of the many advantages of driving under electric power is enhanced sound. What I mean by this is that as a driver, I’m better able to hear my surroundings. While many still believe electric cars to be silent, the reality is their quieter drive mechanicals make it possible to hear tyres squealing, brakes squeezing

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Kia Optima PHEV

Wk2. Economy versus weight

When talking economy, a car’s weight is important. The lighter the car, the less energy required to move it. Simple. And so, engineers take great efforts to reduce weight where they can. Of course, it’s always a battle with the accountants who will want to use cheaper and potentially heavier materials for a job than

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Wk1. Optima Prime arrives

I’ve always loved Transformers. Ever since I was a kid, there was an allure to anything that could perform more than one function. Swiss Army knives, the spork, collander helmets and the like were all satisfying ways to use an item for something else – even better if the designers had never conceived of this

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Prius Plug-in TRD Nürburgring

Nurburgring Meets Prius

Three-digit records are nothing new at the Nürburgring, the go-to location when car manufacturers want to prove the pace of their latest models, but until now, these feats have always been about miles per hour, not miles per gallon. Toyota turned tradition on its head when it took its Prius Plug-in hybrid to the track,

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