The first official images of Kia’s new Niro hybrid crossover model have been released prior to its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Niro is the first car to use the Korean brand’s new eco-car platform which it has created by using small capacity petrol-electric powertrains and Kia claims it will be capable of averaging more than 70mpg with carbon emissions below 90g/km.

When the car was first seen in concept form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013 Kia announced the Niro would feature a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine delivering 160 horsepower mated to an electric motor which takes the total output to 205bhp.

The car has been developed at Kia’s design studios in South Korea and in California and will make its global debut in the USA at the Chicago Auto Show next month.