To compete, Kia will need to work alongside sister brand Hyundai, which we already know is gearing up its European production plants for a new electric model of its own. At Kia’s recent Investor Day, CEO Ho-Sung hinted that despite its positioning, the mooted EV1 would be the firm’s first SDV (software-defined vehicle), integrating “Hyundai Motor Group’s SDV technologies” including “autonomous driving” functions for highway driving.
We expect the EV1 to be one of the models that pushes its maker’s design into a new phase. The minimalist, ultra-contemporary language that Kia is known for has largely spread across different market segments, but Paesen acknowledged that the firm is now transitioning towards a new design generation.
“We’ve built a good foundation, I think now we’ve got a good presence, but how do we become more aspirational, and how do we get people to walk in the showroom and say, ‘I want that Kia’?. That’s part of our strategic thinking,” he said. “And we’re doing that from a design point of view, so that we have a stronger leverage to keep that momentum. EVs obviously lead our Kia values most.”
There are then the physical aspects of designing a small, entry-level EV, the size and cost restrictions, plus the fact that the larger EV2 has obvious crossover or SUV influences.
What will the Kia EV1 look like?
As our exclusive images show, we think Kia will shape the EV1 as a more urban-focused car, rather than include obvious SUV references. This could manifest itself in the silhouette, which has more of a monobox shape closer to that of the short-nosed EV4’s. Kia’s use of black plastic on the bumpers and sills is intended to give the electric city car a sense of urban toughness rather than suggest any off-road ruggedness.
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