Latest news with #EVDay
NZ Autocar
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Kia President and CEO checks out New Zealand operation
Kia Corporation President and CEO, Mr Song Ho-Sung, visited New Zealand recently. He dropped in on Kia's head office and the country's number one selling Kia dealership. Mr Song's journey here was an opportunity to hear firsthand how Kia is doing in New Zealand. He also saw visited the first dealership in the country that is sporting the new Kia corporate identity. The Managing Director of Kia New Zealand, Todd McDonald commented: 'Mr Song's visit provided a forum to discuss strategic alignment and highlight our shared vision of business-orientated goals.' He added 'Global support of our local direction – especially with Tasman Ute and new EV models waiting in the wings – is critical to our ongoing success. 'His visit reinforced to our staff, dealer network as well as customers that the Kia Corporation values and appreciates New Zealand. It is an illustration of their commitment to our market.' Kia NZ releases Tasman pricing here. 'In addition to invaluable time with Mr Song, it was also an excellent opportunity to gain insight into future products and exciting innovations we can expect to see in the not-too-distant future.' Giltrap Group Executive Directors, Michael and Richard Giltrap, were on hand to greet Mr Song and introduce him to the staff at the Group's North Shore location. Read our news item on Kia EV4 here. 'Kia is an integral part of the Giltrap Group's new model portfolio, especially in the EV space and also with the new Tasman Ute. So it was a privilege to host Mr Song while he was in Auckland,' said Michael Giltrap. 'It's a real sign of belief in the product that the President and CEO decided to come to our showroom. It also provided a great confidence boost for our team.' Mr Song's visit followed Kia New Zealand's inaugural EV Day. It is a precursor to the impending launch of the Tasman Ute and upcoming release of the EV4. Both new models will go on sale here in Q3.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Despite Its Tiny Size The Kia EV2 Concept Has The Perfect Seats For Canoodling
At its EV Day event in Spain this week, Kia revealed the production versions of the EV4 sedan and PV5 van, both hugely important electric vehicles for the brand. Kia used the opportunity to also unveil a concept version of its upcoming EV2, a really tiny SUV aimed at European cities. Its adorable exterior is a close preview of what to expect from the production EV2 that will come out next year, and while the interior of the Concept EV2 is definitely more, well, concept-y than the outside, it has one real standout feature that I must highlight: the seats. If you've been missing the old Honda Fit's Magic Seats, you're in luck, because the EV2 concept has an evolution of the same idea. As it's based on the same E-GMP platform as other Hyundai Motor Group vehicles, the EV2 has a totally flat floor that Kia's designers took full advantage of. The base of the rear seat can flip up, allowing the front bench to slide all the way back, leaving a ton of room between you and the dashboard. Kia says it's perfect for relaxing or stretching your legs, and that you can sit on the flat floor to enjoy a meal, but we all know what this is really good for. If you're trying to cuddle up at a drive-in theater or get naughty at lover's lane, this seems like a way more spacious solution than getting into the back seat. When you open up the Concept EV2's front sliding and rear-hinged rear doors, sections slide out of the ends of the bench to add additional seating areas and storage compartments. While the production EV2 will certainly have four normal, front-hinged doors, the flip-up bench and sliding front seat doesn't seem far-fetched to me. In other markets, cars like the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 have second-row captain's chairs that swivel around to face the third row, and Hyundai has shown off how you can slide and recline the Ioniq 9's front passenger seat pretty far back, right up against the second-row seat, for a great lounge experience. Read more: These Are The Dumbest Looking Cars Of All Time, According To You Kia says the EV2's interior "blends practicality and emotion," but it's really not too different from its current offerings, or even that concept-y. The orange metal surface running along the dash incorporates power outlets and a wireless charger along with some physical media or climate controls, and the only other piece of hardware on the dash is the seamless widescreen display. Kia doesn't say what sort of orange fabric is covering the front section of the interior, only that the EV2 uses sustainable materials, but the color split looks great. The triangular speakers in the door cards are actually removable and portable, like what you get in a Rivian. There are also pop-up sliding luggage dividers and straps, sections in the windows that display text messages to pedestrians or other road users, and animated LEDs in the dash. To go along with the door speakers there are lots of triangular motifs throughout, like the headrest shapes and the metal straps that appear to hold the seatbacks in place. While the EV2 might not look quite as outrageous as some of Kia's other recent EVs on the outside, it's definitely distinctive and has a lot of cool elements. It's the first instance we've seen of Kia using a pair of vertical headlights on each side, which sit above a bumper that looks like a sports person's mouth guard. Crisp lines run along broad shoulders that have prominent angular wheel arches, and the EV2's boxy silhouette and upright stance give me Soul vibes. The C-pillar shape is a new motif for Kia that works well here, and my favorite element are the weird taillights that are mounted quite low down on the rear end. Kia says the EV2 will launch in Europe and "other regions" in 2026, and the production model has already been spied looking basically identical to the concept, at least from the outside. Sadly, it doesn't seem like the U.S. will be one of those "other regions." The company hasn't given exact dimensions but Kia says the EV2 is a B-segment SUV, of which there are barely any in America — think cars like the Nissan Juke and Ford EcoSport. We could see the production version of the EV2 be revealed at some point later this year. Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kia PV5 Is A Modular Electric Van We Need But Might Miss Out On
Kia might have found the sweet spot in the current spectrum of electric vans. The Korean automaker unveiled the full details for the PV5 at its EV Day event in Spain on Thursday. Kia's van falls into a utilitarian midpoint between the futuristic Hyundai Staria and the blandly conventional Ford E-Transit. The PV5 has all the ingredients to be successful, but we'll have to patiently wait to see if it will arrive stateside. The Kia PV5 is offered with 51.5-kWh or 71.2-kWh battery packs; the larger battery option will give 248 miles of range to drivers, slightly more than the Volkswagen ID Buzz's 234-mile range. With its fast-charging capabilities, the PV5's battery can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in only half an hour. While range won't be an issue, the lack of power might dissuade some potential buyers. The PV5's electric motor produces 160 horsepower, a bit lackluster compared to the ID Buzz's 282 horsepower output. Read more: All Aboard South Korea's New $100 Billion Baby-Making Trains A highlight of the PV5 is the flexibility of its modular interior and flat floor. The van's passenger version features a three-row seating configuration where the third row or front passenger seat can be removed and replaced with cargo space. This flexibility is even broader for the model targeting commercial use. The dedicated PV5 Cargo can be ordered with a high roof, offering 54.9 square feet of cargo space, and the cargo version can be optioned with a smaller 43.3-kWh battery. Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song said: By integrating the clean efficiency of an electric powertrain with the unprecedented flexibility of our new PBV architecture and advancing our product, software, and manufacturing innovations, the PV5 embodies our core values as a sustainable mobility solutions vehicles have become incredibly complex, but with the PV5, Kia has united multiple cutting-edge technologies toward the goal of simplifying users' mobility experiences. This removes complexity from their personal transport needs and frees them to focus on the pursuit of their ambitions and fulfillment of their passions. Song also discussed the elephant in the room, or the hen coop in this case. Kia's electric van will be available in Europe and Korea in the second half of 2025, but Americans will have to wait longer. Song noted that Kia will try to bring the PV5 to the United States despite the 25-percent chicken tax, according to Motor1. Kia has further variants of the PV5 planned, including a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, a chassis cab version and a Crew iteration featuring cargo lashing points. It would be a shame for the U.S. to miss out on what could be the best modern take on the timeless panel van. Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kia PV5 Electric Van, with a Future Form, Heads to Production
The Kia PV5 battery-electric van will ride on the company's Platform Beyond Vehicle strategy. Kia says the PV5 will be available in cargo and passenger versions and will be joined by further additions to the range. Kia will share more battery-electric news during its EV Day event on Monday, February 24. Ahead of its EV Day presentation this coming Monday, Kia is showing off a battery-electric PV5. That alphanumeric name translates to a battery-electric cargo or passenger van. Originally showing its face at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show as a concept, this PV5 has a green light for production. According to Kia, the futuristically shaped PV5 will be part of its Platform Beyond Vehicle strategy. While that might not mean anything to most of us, it does mean this PV5 will be part of the growing modular Kia battery-electric plan. This should help these vans easily adapt to various use cases around the globe, which could be good news for van-centric US shoppers. Available in cargo and passenger configurations, the new PV5 could be a direct competitor to Volkswagen's ID. Buzz van. More importantly, it means there will be more consumer-facing and commercial vans on the market. Kia also showed off the PV5 WKNDR concept at the 2024 SEMA show that targets overlanding enthusiasts. Kia hasn't revealed anything about the PV5's battery or motor array yet. However, the company will likely drop more details during its EV Day presentation on Monday, February 24. Kia says this presentation will also include more PV5 variants with conversion options. Is this van coming to the United States? Considering the company's efforts at CES and the SEMA show, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see these stateside. Do you think Kia should bring the PV5 to the USA? Tell us your thoughts below.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
New Kia EV4 to join EV3, EV6 and EV9 in Kia's growing electric car line-up
Kia has revealed the first pictures of its new EV4 model ahead of the brand's EV Day, when more details of more all-electric models are set to be released. The Kia EV4 is unusual among electric cars in that it's available with two body styles: a hatchback and a saloon. Kia's design boss, Karim Habib explained the thinking behind the two different flavours of EV4, saying, 'by offering both saloon and hatchback variants, we are bringing to our customers, the unique experience of modernity and practicality that defines the Kia EV family, in a way that suits their varied lifestyles and needs. 'Offering a fresh take on the saloon, the EV4 saloon features a sleek, low nose and long-tail silhouette. The EV4 hatchback is a nimble, versatile all-rounder. Distinctive and clean, it is built to excel in any situation.' The Kia EV4 follows the design theme that Kia calls 'Opposites United', first seen on the award-winning Kia EV9 SUV. That car's bold combination of sharp lines and beefier body mouldings was carried over to the new EV3 hatchback, while some of that style was also introduced into the facelifted EV6 large hatch. The latest incarnation of Kia's 'Tiger Face' also features on these models. Now the Kia EV4 follows in a car that is less SUV-like than the EV3, but will also slot into the Kia EV range beneath the bigger EV6 hatchback. There are no details yet on the tech for the EV4, other than it's expected to sit on the Hyundai Group's E-GMP platform like the other EV models, which should mean a choice of battery sizes of 58kWh and 81kWh, with potential for an even greater range than the EV3's maximum of 375 due to the EV4's more slippery shape. Kia's EV Day is also expected to reveal more about two other new members of its EV family, a small EV2 and another crossover/SUV model, the EV5. More details on Kia's new PV5 van, also recently revealed, will be released then, too. The Kia EV4 is likely to beat the other new models to market, going on sale later in 2025.
