CONCEPT CAR. Currently, the Kia Niro is only available in hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The electric concept car presented at CES announces the arrival of a third variant, while confirming the ambitions of the manufacturer with a complete electric range.
The Kia Niro EV Concept announces higher performance than expected for the production version.
The Hyundai-Kia Group has real ambitions in the field of electric and hybrid cars. To catch up with Toyota, the leader in the hybrid car market, the Korean manufacturer has developed a specific platform called DE, specific to electrified models.
The first two models to use this technical base are the Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq. If the second comes in three variants (hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric), it is not yet the case of the second, which does not benefit from an electric declination. This should happen soon, as evidenced by the presence of the Niro EV Concept CES Las Vegas.
Compared to hybrid variants already on the market, the Niro EV presented at CES has a much more spectacular look. This is certainly due to the matte black hue, enhanced by bronze details. But the specific shields, the very original wheels and the hidden grille transfigure the rather classic look of this compact crossover. On the standard version, only the smooth front should be retained. This is also what differentiates the Hyundai Ioniq electric from its hybrid sister.
Performance superior to that of the electric Ioniq
Technically, the Kia Niro EV Concept sets the bar significantly higher than the Ioniq. The battery of 64 kWh promises a range of 383 km (on the US measurement cycle, about 500 km on the European cycle), against 28 kWh and 280 km respectively (on the European measurement cycle, much more optimistic) at Hyundai . Engine side also, this concept car does not skimp, with a power of 204 hp, while the Ioniq is satisfied with 120 hp. This announces according to the manufacturer the next generation of electric cars in the group. The Niro electric series should already benefit, as the Hyundai Kona electric announced for the first half of 2018, and the Ioniq could benefit as a result of a technical update.
Inside, too, this Kia Niro EV is more futuristic than the series model. On the program: clean lines, immaculate materials and gestural control. Another novelty concerns a set of eight speakers contained in the headrests, which allows each passenger to listen to different music. But on the standard version, there will probably remain only the specific center console, quite similar to that of the electric Ioniq.
If it looks forward, it's mainly because this Niro EV Concept intends to announce the upcoming range of Kia, which intends to launch 16 models electrified by 2025. This set includes a fuel cell model, promised for 2020, which will take over the technology developed by Hyundai for Nexo, also unveiled at CES.