Testing of the next-generation 2022 Kia Niro has just commenced in Europe and the new car is shaping up to be quite different from the outgoing model.
In designing the new Niro, Kia appears to have taken styling inspiration from the HabaNiro concept it unveiled in the second quarter of 2019. Of course, the new Niro won’t feature the same butterfly doors as the concept but there are some similarities that are visible, despite the heavy body cladding.
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The most obvious similarities between the HabaNiro concept and this prototype are the boomerang-shaped LED taillights that stretch up the crossover’s thick C-pillars, also present on the concept. It’s a little harder to determine what’s going on up front but the striking LED headlights of the concept don’t appear to be present. It is also difficult to determine if the 2022 Niro will ditch Kia’s traditional tiger-nose front grille in favor of a more shark-like nose as featured on the HabaNiro concept.
Speaking more broadly, it is understood the new car will sport a longer wheelbase than the outgoing model, providing passengers with more interior space. The overhangs will also be shortened.
Powertrain details regarding the new 2022 Kia Niro remain unconfirmed but it is believed that Kia will continue to sell it in all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid forms when it hits the market next year as a 2022 model.
As a reminder, the current Niro EV variant shares its powertrain and battery with the Hyundai Kona Electric, meaning it is offered in 39.2 kWh and 64 kWh guises and offered in 134 hp and 201 hp forms.
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