AUTO

EV5 and Two Concept Models Revealed at Kia EV Day

October 14, 2023

The new EV5 will be available in Korea and China in late 2023 and early 2024.
The automaker will release a new Kia App in early 2024, and it will feature artificial intelligence and enhanced EV functions.
The Kia EV lineup will range in price between $30,000 and $80,000 to fit a range of budgets.
The EV3 and EV4 are sophisticated concept EVs that fit the brand’s new design pillars regarding reason, joy, power, and progress.

During the first annual Kia EV Day in Korea, the revolutionary automaker revealed the details of three new EV models. The automaker showed off a new midsize EV SUV, a compact EV SUV, and a sleek four-door electric sedan. This exciting EV Day follows the automaker’s announcement of record-setting sales in September.

Developing Zero-Emission Vehicles for All

These exciting reveals show how Kia is dedicated to its strategy of becoming the global leader in electric vehicles. The success of the EV6 and the excitement brewing about the EV9 show that Kia has vehicles that drivers want. Adding more compact and midsize models will only help Kia attract more customers who want zero-emissions vehicles with affordable sticker prices.

“Kia is keenly focused on providing solutions to the concerns that continue to cause hesitation when it comes to making an EV purchase,” Ho Sung Song, President and CEO of Kia said. “By developing advanced EV technology, bold design, and intuitive services, and applying them to our entire EV line-up, our ultimate aim is to provide Kia’s unique value to as many people as possible. The acceleration towards electrification begins now.”

Improving the Customer Service Journey

Along with the new EVs, Kia shared its new customer service tools. The automaker is planning to change the way customers purchase and maintain their vehicles.

In 2024, the new Kia App will hit app stores. It will allow customers to research vehicles and conduct test drives. It will also have an artificial intelligence (AI) feature for quick responses to questions. Drivers can use the app to receive discounts on insurance

The new app will put electric vehicles at the forefront thanks to the E-routing function. It will check the real-time battery status to determine the best route based on the nearest charging stations. It will also provide real-time charging status and share location-based information like destination chargers at restaurants and shopping malls.

The 2024 EV4 will feature in-vehicle AI so customers can arrange maintenance appointments, optimize EV routes, and receive emergency support by chatting with an AI bot. This technology will also appear in the EV4 and EV5 and will have over-the-air updates for added customer convenience.

The Stars of the Show

The stars of the show were the new EVs, and they should help Kia achieve its goal of selling one million EVs during the 2026 year. By 2030, Kia wants to deliver 1.6 million EV units annually. With a lineup that includes EVs priced between $30,000 and $80,000, the sales numbers could become a reality.

The EV6 and EV9 satisfied the early adopters who can afford the higher end of the price points. The EV5, EV4, and EV3 will have lower price points, between $35,000 and $50,000. Markets with slower adoption rates will focus on the EV6 and EV9, while markets with strong EV adoption will see the full lineup.

Reaching Goals with Global Manufacturing Sites

To meet the lofty goals, Kia will expand production with eight EV production and assembly locations by 2025. Korea will continue to be the central hub with research and development at the heart, along with production and supply.

European plants will focus on compact and midsize EVs, while China will focus on the midsize and full-size models. India will focus on local EV manufacturing, and assembly plants in the United States will allow drivers to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.

Kia is also working on battery partnerships so it can have a constant battery supply source. With global EV production, the partnerships will include several battery manufacturers.

New Models with the “Opposites United” Philosophy

The newest Kia vehicles have sleek and sophisticated designs paired with a cutting-edge electric platform. Each model has elements of the brand’s design philosophy called “Opposites United.” This branding strategy includes a minimum of ten sustainable items in each model. They include bioplastic, bio paint, carpet made from recycled fishing nets, and more.

Introducing the 2023 Kia EV5

Consumers in China and Korea will be the first to purchase the newest addition to the EV lineup. The EV5 is a smaller version of the EV9 and features an interior space that resembles a comfortable living room rather than a typical car cabin.

Configurations in China and Korea

All Asian models will have the E-GMP platform with speedy charging. The Chinese EV5 will be available with three configurations. The first is the standard model with a 64 kWh battery pack and 329 miles of range.

The Chinese long-range and long-range AWD models will have an 88 kWh battery pack. The long-range will go 447 miles on a single charge, while the AWD model will go 403 miles on a single charge. The EV5 will have speedy charging, like the EV6 and EV9. Drivers will see the battery charge from 30% to 80% in under 30 minutes.

The Korean models will have smaller battery packs. The standard model will have a 58 kWh battery pack while the long-range will have an 81 kWh battery. All models will have standard front-wheel drive. The automaker will offer a GT model but hasn’t revealed details yet.

Kia includes regenerative braking and the iPedal system so drivers can use single-pedal driving to improve range and driving comfort.

Seating Configurations with a Camping Bed

The sustainable interior configurations include several upholstery options. The EV5 will seat five, and consumers can choose from recycled PET fabric and bio-polyurethane leather. In the Chinese market, the front seats are in a bench configuration with a center console armrest. Kia added mood lighting for added effect. The center console can become a table.

Consumers can also choose reclining front seats, relaxation seats with massage features, and comfort seats with lumbar support, massage, heat, and ventilation.

The EV5 has a unique feature that turns the rear seats into a bedroom. The flat-folding second-row functions as a camping bed for overnight trips. The SUV also has a rear console refrigerator and food warmer for in-car meals.

The Reasonable and Joyful EV3

The EV3 is a compact SUV that will be similar in size to the popular Kia Soul. Engineers include the EV3 in the “Joy for Reason” design pillar as it will be a practical vehicle that makes drivers happy.

Karim Habib, Head of Kia Global Design Center said, “Joy can be seen as the antithesis of reason. One is a positive, emotional response, and the other is derived from logic. When the two are combined, though, their contrasting qualities merge into a powerful and highly impactful design.

The EV3 will feature a forward windshield with a sloping roof, asymmetrical angles in the wheel arches, and a C pillar with horizontal black-out trim. Kia will include clean lines, lightly colored trim, and refined, ergonomic styling. The seats will offer flexibility so drivers can rotate and angle them to take advantage of interior tables and cargo space for scooters and electric bikes.

The Powerful and Progressive EV4

Kia also debuted an electric sedan wearing the EV4 moniker. This sleek sedan uses the automaker’s “Power to Progress” design segment that focuses on expertise and creativity. Consumers will quickly notice the profile is similar to the EV6, but the EV4 is expected to be smaller in size than the automaker’s award-winning foundational model.

The innovative styling is designed to reinvent the idea of a sedan. It blends geometric lines with harmonious curves for a rich look that defies previous notions of what differentiates a sedan from an SUV. It has a low nose, a sleek profile, and a roof spoiler, giving it the look of a vehicle built for speed.

The high-tech features include vertical headlamps sitting at the far edges of the hood, which are significantly different from the tiger eyes on the EV6. These innovative headlamps show how Kia is pushing the boundaries of EV design both in power and styling.

Kia added a sophisticated air conditioning control panel that can be stowed in the center console. The pin-hole vents can be configured in a variety of patterns for specialized ventilation.

Engineers describe the interior as cocoon-like, with a minimalist instrument panel, a pair of digital screens, and a “Mind Modes” option that lets drivers personalize the ambient lighting and ventilation patterns.