The style is simple and expressive.
Kia
Before its official world premiere later this month, Kia released the first photos of its next EV6 electric battery on Sunday, and we have to say, it looks pretty good. In addition to being the brand’s first dedicated electric model and its first vehicle based on the new Global-Electric Modular Platform – which also supports the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 – EV6 will also be the first example of Kia’s new Opposites United design philosophy. It’s a lot of new ground to open, so it’s a good thing that the EV6 makes a strong first impression.
The EV6 boasts a crossover-like design with proportions that double the genre, not unlike the recently launched Ioniq 5, but more windy and aerodynamic than the angled and upright Hyundai. At the front is the new Kia logo and a set of large headlights connected by a narrow upper grille. Daytime angled signature lights light up with sequential animation. Along with the larger, more aggressive lower opening – which has an aerodynamic function – these details form what Kia designers are calling a “digital tiger face”. The look is supposed to evoke the spirit of the automaker’s current “tiger nose” grid, but I really don’t see that.
Depending on which member of the Roadshow team you ask, this rear is shiny or just busy.
Kia
There is a line of really cool characters that runs along the bottom of the door before leaning up to join the wraparound taillights, which separate the steep inclines, almost Jaguar I-Pace-like the rear window and the spoiler of the rest of the hatch. The dark finish around the lower edge of the EV6 and the wheel arches narrow the silhouette a little, giving the whole vehicle a very sporty profile.
Inside, the EV6 promises to deliver more space than you would expect from a vehicle in its class – a trademark of the E-GMP platform – although Kia has not released specific dimensions. It is probably safe to assume that the scale is not too far from the Ioniq 5 brand. While the Hyundai features a very flat dashboard design, the EV6 wraps its cockpit around the driver’s seat, integrating the digital instrument panel and the huge display center on a curved black panel. In front of the driver is a two-spoke steering wheel. Between the front seats is a two-tier floating center console that houses the start button, a rotary shift lever and what appears to be a generous lower storage area. Overall, the interior looks as good as the EV6’s exterior design.
We are still waiting to learn more about the electric performance, range, charging technology and availability of the Kia EV6. We expect the numbers to remain close to those of Ioniq 5 single and double motor electric powertrains, which means that there must be somewhere between 218 and 306 horsepower, 258 to 446 pound-feet of torque and up to about 300 miles of range on the European WLTP cycle. Then again, the Hyundai Motor Group has been increasingly striving to differentiate common products from its brands, so there may still be surprises to be revealed when the electric crossover makes its debut later this month.