Kia is now into electric vehicles. Kia Motors announces a new segment to compete with an unbeaten rival, Porsche Taycan. It will launch an all-new electric crossover next year. Based on the Imagine concept first seen at the 2019 Geneva Motor show. The new Kia CV will be the brand’s halo model.
And will showcase the next-gen charging technology for new platforms specifically build for electric vehicles.
It will also sweeten up the relations with Kia’s recent tie-up with electric expert Rimac. Kia will also try to feature the new concept in the mainstream model in its line up.
The Technical drop-down list…
The company targets an aim of a 300-mile range for the crossover. It will feature the “sub 20 minutes recharge time”. It will work on the concept of IONITY’s 350kW fast-charging network. The Kia will try to outsmart its rival Porsche Taycan. Kia Motors Europe COO Emilio Herrera told Auto Express: “We will have in the new EV a high-performance vehicle like an e-GT.” The model will squash the 0-60km/h straight road run in under 3 sec. This all will be brand new for the Korean Brand. The rest of the company’s E-GMP platform technical specification will be kept secret.
Design and Styling of concept
The car’s styling will take inspiration from the Imagine by Kia concept. As we saw in the Geneva Motor show, the vehicle will be futuristic. The styling will be as the concept car showcased with the company’s trademark “Tiger Nose” grille and a sharp, fastback-style rear end.
During the showcase, Kia’s chief designer Luc Donkerwolke suggested that little would need to change between the show car and the production-ready crossover. He said: “I don’t see anything that’s really not feasible. There are some cost-related issues that have to be validated; but it hasn’t been done by designers who don’t understand how to build a car for production.”
“[The Imagine by Kia concept] is not a free exercise. It’s not just a last-minute car for Geneva. It has a purpose. This is more business than show. We are definitely not entertaining here, but actually communicating with our customers.”
Kia’s a future planner…
The Korean automakers, within the next 5 years have planned a lot for their EV platform. They want to increase the electric lineup from two to eleven. And the company wants to aim at eco-friendly vehicles as their major sales for the coming years. Kia’s Europe marketing director, Carlos Lahoz stated, “It is important to make a statement. Every manufacturer needs a halo car that sets the pace for whatever is coming. We are going to launch 11 [electric cars] by 2025, and this is the first stepping stone to what the new Kia is going to offer to consumers.”
