Kia Is Developing a More Powerful Gas Engine

By far, the biggest news to come from the 2025 Kia CEO Investor Day event was the announcement of a new electric pickup truck for North America. However, the Korean brand had another tidbit to share. It’s working on a new modular gas engine that will power ICE cars and hybrids. In addition, the turbocharged four-cylinder unit will also serve as a generator for upcoming extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs).

Shown below in a grainy official image, the new 2.5T-GDI will improve thermal efficiency by 5 percent compared to the current engine. Kia touts a 12-percent boost in power, so look for an output beyond 300 hp. The existing mill makes 281 hp in the Sorento and 290 hp in the K5 GT. Torque is likely to grow beyond the 311 pound-feet available in the SUV and sedan.

For hybrids, Kia claims better acceleration and a smoother transition from the electric motor to the gas engine. Additionally, the electrified models will deliver a 4-percent improvement in efficiency thanks to a new hybrid setup featuring a coaxial serial connection between the electric motor and combustion engine.

Kia didn’t have much to say about EREVs, only mentioning the system will use a “high-efficiency power generation system using a new 2.5-liter gasoline-based generator module.” Look for the ICE to juice up the battery without any mechanical connection to the wheels. It should be like Nissan’s E-Power technology, Ram’s Ramcharger, and the old BMW i3 REx. The new Scout trucks will also be offered with a range-extending gas engine.

The new gas and hybrid powertrains will be fundamental to Kia’s goal of hitting 4.19 million annual sales by 2030. It’s an ambitious objective, considering last year’s deliveries stood at a record 3.1 million. To get there, 15 EVs and 10 hybrids (including plug-in hybrids) will be launched by the decade’s end, at which point Kia will have increased its global production capacity by 17 percent to 4.25 million vehicles.

By 2030, Kia estimates it will sell 1.26 million EVs and 1.07 million hybrids/PHEVs, with the remaining 1.86 million cars running solely on gasoline or diesel. The electric truck for America is estimated to account for 90,000 units each year, while the Tasman is projected to generate 80,000 sales annually.