By Cam Tait \/ Thursday, 12 October 2023 \/ Loading comments<\/p>\n
Kia\u2019s electric car naming structure can be a bit tricky to follow. The first BEV we received from the Korean car giant was the Soul EV back in 2014, followed by the bland (but actually quite brilliant) e-Niro a few years later. Then came the EV6, built from the ground-up to be an electric car and, therefore, justifying an all-new name. And now it seems the nomenclature has stuck, as the company has announced new EV3 and EV4 concepts, alongside a production version of the EV5 SUV.<\/p>\n
Announced as part of the company\u2019s inaugural \u2018EV Day\u2019, which is set to become an annual event to showcase the firm\u2019s new EVs, the new concepts take the form of an entry-level compact SUV (that\u2019s the EV3) and a Polestar 2-style raised saloon (the EV4). Kia isn\u2019t giving away any powertrain details this early on, sadly, but judging by the look of the imminent EV9 compared to its concept, there\u2019s a good chance that what you see is what you\u2019ll get at some point in the not-so-distant future.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with the Concept EV3, as it\u2019s slated for release next year and will likely become Kia\u2019s new cash cow. Compact crossovers are immensely popular, after all, even if a fair chunk of them are far from thrilling. The Concept EV3, however, aims to take the tech and luxury of its impending EV9, and scale it down into a smaller package. The interior, for instance, adopts a similar design and layout to the flagship SUV, with a floating centre console, outstretched windscreen and digital panel incorporating the instruments and infotainment menus spanning half the dash.<\/p>\n
It’s still very much a concept, mind, so expect to see more buttons (and more realistic pedals) make their way over to the production car. It should, however, come with \u2018soft mood lighting\u2019 that, in Kia\u2019s words, \u2018promotes emotional wellbeing\u2019. Kia has also developed a new natural fibre: a lightweight material with similar benefits to carbon fibre – and without the environmental downsides. It\u2019s incorporated into the seats to help save weight, and is paired up with \u2018mini tables\u2019 made from a mushroom-based material called Mycelium, serving as a greener alternative to plastics. It\u2019s softer too, apparently.<\/p>\n
Over to the Concept EV4, which adopts the same cabin layout as the EV3, only now in a saloon body. Only Kia doesn\u2019t want you to call it that, claiming that its \u2018sleek low nose\u2019 and \u2018long-tail silhouette\u2019 are more reminiscent of sports and racing cars, meaning it qualifies as \u2018an entirely new type of EV saloon.\u2019 However Kia wants to label it, the EV4 will still go up against the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and other four-door EVs commonly referred to as saloons.<\/p>\n
While Kia hasn\u2019t revealed any technical details for its new concepts, we do have battery and motor specs for the new EV5. Strangely, the line-up varies depending on whether it\u2019s a Chinese or Korean model. Those built in China for the local market come with either 64kWh or 88kWh batteries, with power ranging from 218hp to 313hp. In Korea, that drops to 58kWh and 81kWh, while outputs range from 218hp to 306hp, although the company says the powertrains are still under development and could change come release day. A GT version is in the works too but, again, Kia is playing its cards close to its chest.<\/p>\n
Spencer Cho, Kia\u2019s head of business planning, says: \u201cthe EV market is expanding from one catering to the smaller early-adopter group to a broader mass majority of customers. As a leader in the great EV transition, we have quickly expanded our EV line-up beyond the EV6 and EV9 to include a variety of small- and medium-sized models such as the EV5. Our competitive, growing EV line-up will accelerate the popularisation of electric vehicles and provide consumers with more options from which to choose.\u201d<\/p>\n
That \u2018popularisation\u2019 of EVs is set to kick off imminently, with both the EV5 and production-ready EV3 due to arrive next year. We\u2019ll have to wait a little longer for region-specific pricing, but Kia says that EV3 to EV5 will cost between $35,000 and $50,000 (or \u00a328,500 and \u00a340,600). If the sci-fy styling didn\u2019t grab your attention, those prices certainly should.<\/p>\n