Kia has made no secret of its plans to offer 11 electric vehicles globally by 2025, across a range of segments including passenger vehicles, SUVs and MPVs.
Europe will play a decisive role in the Korean carmaker’s strategy, with the region getting a dedicated new EV in 2021. We now learn additional details about the new electric vehicle which will offer crossover design on a new platform, long driving range and rapid-charging capability.
The first of Kia’s next-generation EVs will feature a crossover design, blurring the lines between passenger cars and SUVs. This likely means the automaker is talking about the production version of the Imagine by Kia concept car unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The EV will also offer a future-oriented user experience, according to the company.
Read Also: Kia’s Electric Crossover Will Be A Supercar Killer With An 800-Volt Charging System
Imagine by Kia Concept
The as-yet-unnamed EV internally known as the Kia CV will be constructed on a unique platform called E-GMP specifically engineered in collaboration with Rimac to accommodate “world-leading EV powertrain and technologies.” More specifically, it will enable a single-charge driving range of over 500 km (310 miles), as well as a high-speed charging time of under 20 minutes.
The latter is made possible by an 800-volt charging system similar to the one used by the Porsche Taycan. While Kia did not talk performance numbers, the EV will reportedly rocket from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 3 seconds. Following the introduction of the brand’s maiden dedicated zero-emissions model in 2021, Kia will launch many of its future global EVs from 2022 onwards.
Imagine by Kia Concept
Each of the new models will feature EV-specific designs and a new user experience “designed to make them even easier to live with day-to-day.” Kia’s EVs will offer either 400V or 800V charging capacity, depending on the model. Additionally, every new model line due to launch in Europe from now on will offer at least one variety of electrification: mild-hybrid, full-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full-electric.
Kia posted record EV sales in Europe in the first quarter of 2020, with the e-Niro and Soul EV accounting for 6 percent of the brand’s total European sales. Sales of its EVs grew by 75 percent to 6,811 units compared to the first quarter of 2019. By 2026, Kia is aiming for more than 20 percent of its European sales to be fully-electric.
