The next-generation Kia e-Niro has been spied testing for the very first time and is poised to be particularly striking.
Kia has been developing the new Niro for quite some time and it has been previously spotted testing ICE-powered variants of its next small crossover. The new Korean model will borrow some styling elements from the HabaNiro Concept unveiled at the New York International Auto Show back in 2019.
Read More: 2022 Kia Niro – Bold New Looks, Powertrains & Everything Else We Know
Unlike the most recently spotted ICE-powered test cars, this particular e-Niro prototype is clad in black covers that hide most of its key design details. However, it appears to lack the tiger-nose grille found on other Kia models and should have headlights, as well as curvaceous LED daytime running lights, very similar to those of the HabaNiro Concept.
Elsewhere, we can see that the new e-Niro EV will feature angular C-pillars and quite an edgy design. Our spy photographers also report that it will have a slightly longer wheelbase than its predecessor, increasing cabin space.
Technical specifications about the electric version remain unclear. The outgoing e-Niro is powered by a 64 kWh battery pack that feeds a 150 kW (201 hp) electric motor. It has a respectable range of 282 miles (455 km) under the WLTP cycle. Battery improvements featured on this new model should increase that to over 300 miles (482 km).
Kia will also sell the 2022 Niro in hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms. It is possible that the plug-in hybrid variant could borrow its powertrain from the Sorento PHEV. If that’s the case, it will sport a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine working alongside a 66.9 kW electric motor and an 8 kWh battery pack, pumping out a combined 261 hp through all four wheels.
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