The 2.5-liter turbocharged engine will also serve as a generator for extended-range electric vehicles.
The most significant piece of information revealed at the 2025 Kia CEO Investor Day event was undoubtedly the announcement regarding new electric pickup truck For North America, the Korean brand has more news to share. They are developing a new modular gasoline engine designed for both internal combustion engines (ICE) and hybrid vehicles. Additionally, this turbocharged four-cylinder engine will function as a generator for future extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).
As seen in a blurry official image, the upcoming 2.5T-GDI will enhance thermal efficiency by 5 percent over the present engine. According to Kia, this new model promises a 12-percent increase in horsepower, which could push output above 300 hp. Currently, the existing engine delivers 281 hp in the Stinger. Sorento And it delivers 290 horsepower in the K5 GT. The torque is expected to exceed the 311 pound-feet available in both the SUV and sedan versions.
The new Kia turbocharged 2.5-liter gasoline engine (apologies for the low resolution)
For hybrids, Kia asserts superior acceleration along with a more seamless switch from the electric motor to the gasoline engine. Moreover, the hybrid variants will see a 4 percent boost in efficiency due to an innovative system where the electric motor and internal combustion engine are connected coaxially in series.
Kia provided limited details regarding their EREV setup but noted that they would employ a "high-efficiency power generation system with a novel 2.5-liter gas-fueled generator unit." The intention seems to involve an internal combustion engine charging the battery directly, not physically linked to the wheels—a mechanism akin to Nissan’s E-Power tech. Ram’s Ramcharger , along with the classic BMW i3 REx. Additionally, the new Scout trucks will come equipped with an optional range-extender gasoline engine.
Kia aims to achieve its target of selling 4.19 million cars annually by 2030 with the introduction of new gas and hybrid engines as key components. This represents a significant challenge, given that their highest yearly sales last year were 3.1 million units. By the close of this decade, they plan to introduce 15 electric vehicles along with 10 hybrids (which include plug-in variants). At that time, Kia expects to boost its worldwide manufacturing capability by 17%, reaching a total output potential of 4.25 million automobiles.
Kia projects that by 2030, they will sell approximately 1.26 million battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and around 1.07 million hybrid/electric plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The rest of their sales—about 1.86 million cars—are expected to be powered exclusively by conventional fuels such as gasoline or diesel engines. Additionally, an all-electric pickup designed specifically for the U.S. market could contribute about 90,000 unit sales annually. Tasman is expected to produce around 80,000 sales each year.
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Source: Kia