Kia EV6 electric crossover to spearhead new EV family
Kia has unveiled its EV6 fully electric car; its first dedicated battery electric vehicle and the spearhead in the brand’s new electric line-up.
The crossover-inspired EV6 is based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s bespoke E-GMP platform also being used for Hyundai’s new Ioniq 5 crossover, and is the first of 11 new battery electric vehicles due under the ‘Plan S’ strategy first revealed last year, of which seven will be built on the E-GMP architecture, and four will be derivative EVs based on existing models.
All of the new fully electric models will be built on the same platform and launch by 2027, joining the brand’s existing ICE-based electric vehicles.
Technical details are yet to be revealed – the EV6 makes its global premiere later this month. But Kia has previously said all EVs built on the E-GMP base aim to set new benchmarks in electric range, driving performance, interior space and use of new technologies.
The EV6 also introduces a new naming strategy using the ‘EV’ prefix, followed by a number which corresponds to the car’s position in the line-up. The brand says the new approach will bring simplicity and consistency.
Furthermore, the EV6 debuts the brand’s new design philosophy ‘Opposites United’, which is based on five key design pillars: ‘Bold for Nature’, ‘Joy for Reason’, ‘Power to Progress’, ‘Technology for Life’, and ‘Tension for Serenity’.
The exterior design is characterised by high-tech details and is based on the ‘Power to Progress’ principle and evolves the brand’s ‘Tiger Nose Grille’ into the ‘Digital Tiger Face’ for the electrified era.
The new platform will also enable a modern and spacious interior design. Details include
a curved high-definition audio visual and navigation screen that extends from the steering wheel to the centre of the car and deploys a minimised approach to the number of physical buttons. Haptic buttons are used for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning settings while the fabric upholstery for the seats is made of recycled plastics.
The EV6 will make its world premiere later this month in a special online event.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for nearly 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day. Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news - or gossip.
