KOREAN car maker Kia has announced it will have a mild-hybrid diesel Sportage SUV on the road later this year.

It is the first stage of the company's move to offer a 48-volt hybrid powertrain on all of its models by 2025.

The new EcoDynamics+' powertrain reduces carbon emissions by supplementing acceleration with electric power from an additional 48-volt battery and extending combustion engine ‘off time' using a new mild-hybrid starter-generator unit.

The all-new Ceed, also due for release this year, will be the second model to offer the new technology which can be fitted to both diesel and petrol engines.

The introduction of the new 48-volt powertrain means Kia is the first manufacturer to offer consumers hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric and 48-volt technology across its model line-up.

Kia plans to launch 16 advanced powertrain vehicles by 2025, including five new hybrids, five plug-in hybrids, five battery-electric vehicles and - in 2020 - a new fuel-cell electric vehicle.

The EcoDynamics+ diesel mild-hybrid powertrain will enable Kia to offer cleaner diesel engines.

The system, which does not require the vehicle to be plugged in to recharge, is paired with Kia's Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) active emissions control technology, reducing CO2 emissions by up to four per cent on the new Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), and up to seven per cent on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).