Kia Motors has confirmed the new Niro EV will have a “substantially larger range” than the competing Hyundai Ioniq.

Kia Niro EV teaser

The South Korean company unveiled teaser images of a Niro EV concept branded electric car, and will take off the wraps at CES 2018, Las Vegas. The concept car represents the brand’s vision for future mobility and hints toward design features and styling cues for the brand’s forthcoming electrified vehicles.

The car is said to combine a “highly efficient battery-electric powertrain” – likely a derivative of the Soul EV or forthcoming Stonic EV powertrain – and represents “the next step in the brand’s on-going journey to electrification”.

A Kia representative confirmed the Niro EV is scheduled for release at the end of 2018, possibly early 2019 and that it will have “possibly double” the range of the Hyundai Ioniq Electric – indicating a likely official range of more than 300 miles.

As for Kia’s existing electric model, the Soul EV, an update at the end of 2018 or early 2019 will see it gain an “even greater range” than Niro EV.

These electric cars underpin the company’s future direction that will see a “whole raft of electric models” announced at a later date.

Kia is also using CES to demonstrate new advanced driver assistance technologies and HMI (Human Machine Interface) functions, as well as an in-car 5G connection.

Dr. Woong-cheol Yang, Vice Chairman and Head of Hyundai-Kia R&D Centre said, “Virtual reality, self-driving cars, and full vehicle connectivity were all once considered technologies of the distant future. As they rapidly become a reality, Kia is exploring how to adapt these new technologies for its customers.”

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