Kia has unveiled a brace of new electric vehicles for its fast-expanding range of EV range, headlining its first annual Kia EV Day, held around 100km south of Seoul, South Korea.
Showcasing current, just-released, now and new models, the Kia EV Day previewed a peek into the future of Kia's EV products and its future plans, ideas and ideals such as phasing out leather from its EV range, renewable materials and expanding its connectivity and tech.
With the new production EV5 taking centre-stage, the model was flanked on either side by the EV6 GT (which we've had in NZ for six months) and the EV9 (launched in November), along with two new concepts that look remarkably close to production versions, the EV3 Concept and EV4 Concept, both designed to accelerate the transition to EVs - Kia even offering VIP guests an eyes-only look at the upcoming EV2 city car, and a covered-up silhouette peek at its ute.
Kia EV3 Concept
Kia says early adopters play an important role in the small EV segment, and the compact and innovative EV3 is their car. Bold prisms and angled lines with squared wheelarches and symmetrical angles wash over the EV3, a concept vehicle that looks both remarkably close to production, and a modernised, all-electric version of the Kia Soul.
Pushing the windscreen forward maximises interior space with an agile silhouette, says Kia. Front volume and an evolved digital tiger-face front fascia uses a minimal grille, while retaining a face. The word robust is used frequently.
Kia crammed a lot into the few minutes it took to present the EV3, so take a breath for the paraphrasing: "vertical headlights emphasise the width, and the signature starlamp offers a futuristic appearance, and a clean, disconnected C-pillar; Kia offers a 'Opposites United' philosophy, with forward-opening doors and various active features.
There's a large grey zone as area lighting with colourful mood configurations, door trims that are clean and uncluttered, plus a moving table for space and adaptable and length, position and angle, in tandem with the seat movement." Phew! The rear bench seat also lifts to load bikes and, as Kia suggested, e-scooters... which can of course be recharged using the vehicle's V2L (Vehicle to Load) adaptor for power anywhere.
Interior materials and ambience are similarly impressive, enhanced by soft mood lighting, ergonomic seat design and environmentally friendly materials, in keeping with the brand’s ethos of achieving sustainability at scale, they combine with mini tables that rotate in length, position, and angle.
EV3 uses a lot of technology, practicality and design of Kia’s flagship SUV, the EV9, in a compact and accessible form. EV3 all looks very production viable, and Kia says we might even see a version unveiled at next year's 2024 EV Day: "providing the technology, practicality and design of the flagship SUV in a compact form."
Kia EV4 Concept
While the world moves to SUVs, there is still a market for traditional sedans and while the EV4 Concept isn't exactly that either in its purest form, it is a swoopy, stylish, modern interpretation of a sedan with modern EV form.
With a focus on performance and visual impact with its futuristic low hood and long tail, unconventional roof spoiler and wide stance accentuated by its bobtail vertical taillights that frame the tailgate, the EV4 Concept is quite visually stunning in its earth tones and modernised three-spoke wheels.
It's also driver-oriented inside, minimised to reduce clutter, with climate controls on a slide-out panel, pin-style air-vents and slim, horizontal lines. There's a cocooning, wraparound theme, along with a functional centre console with moving table, plus what Kia calls "mind modes" of mood lighting, with serenity and work modes "offering digital graphics for a more relaxed ambience for reflection and restoration".
While there is a lot of Kia marketing speak, such as "An aggressive facial impression complements the Concept EV4’s progressive, technological silhouette", the look is impactful, with a wide stance, with vertical headlights located at the extreme outer edges of the hood and front bumper.
Kia’s new EV experience: Elevating the customer journey
To accelerate EV adoption over the coming years, Kia plans to leverage customer engagement in a number of ways, across the many touch-points, from pre-purchase to ownership.
In the first half of 2024, the 'Kia App' is scheduled for release globally (NZ TBC), with the aim of offering customers a comprehensive and hassle-free experience, from vehicle research and test drives to contract finalisation.
The app will include an AI chatbot to help customers with their questions and provide quick responses. It will also offer insurance premium discounts linked to insurance products (TBC for NZ). The standout feature of the app is the ‘E-routing’ function, which uses the current battery status of the vehicle to suggest the best navigation route, considering charging stations. The app's home screen will display location-based information, like nearby restaurants, to improve the user experience. Customers can conveniently manage the charging port and monitor real-time charging status on the home screen using the 'Handle Layer' feature in the app.
Kia is also set to embrace generative AI technology to revolutionise the in-vehicle experience, such as schedule management, electric vehicle route optimisation, travel planning, entertainment, and emergency support by simply engaging in verbal conversations with the generative AI assistant, while in the car.
Generative AI technology will debut in the 2024 EV3 model, with subsequent integration into the EV4 and EV5, and continuous enhancements via over-the-air updates.
