Kia announces new crossover EV for 2021
Kia announces new crossover EV for 2021
Posted on May 22, 2020
Kia is definitely not resting on its laurels, as it announced last week it is planning a new crossover EV for next year. The company says the new model is split between two versions. One a standard crossover and the other will be a high performance crossover with up to 500 miles of range.
The new crossover will apparently be based on the Imagine concept they showed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019.
The new vehicle will be the first from Kia based on the brand new Hyundai E-GMP platform. This platform is designed specifically for next generation EVs and will be the underpinning of many new EVs from the two Korean automakers.
Sources indicate there may be two versions, a standard EV and a high performance model.
Kia Motors Europe COO Emilio Herrera said, “We will have in the new EV a high performance vehicle like an e-GT.” This model will deliver Taycan-rivaling pace with a 0-62mph time of under 3s targeted, a level of performance that's completely new for the Korean brand.
That quote refers to the Porsche Taycan which is referred to a couple of times in the reports around this new vehicle.
High performance EV
Kia has been working with Rimac who specializes in electric vehicles. The result is a battery pack that is reported to be good for up to 500 miles between charges. This has yet to be officially finalized yet. Some news outlets are quoting just 300 miles between charges so we will have to wait and see.
The battery comes with a new 800v charging system that is said to charge the battery from empty to full in just 20 minutes. This will work alongside the Hyundai IONITY 350kW fast-charging system to deliver improved practicality.
Concept to reality
The original Imagine concept was stunning but we doubt it will all make it to production. Kia has hinted that the new crossover will take inspiration from the Imagine but not much else. It ‘should’ be an unconventional design with crossover dimensions, tiger nose grille and probably more practical design cues.
Kia said at Geneva that the Imagine was designed from the ground up to be production-ready and not just a conversation piece. Just how true that will be remains to be seen. With the crossover market already saturated, even an EV variant is going to need to be something special to be competitive.
Hopefully this new vehicle could be it!
This new crossover EV has been pencilled in for 2021 and barring anything unforeseen, we should begin learning more from Kia over the coming months.