Latest news with #LightCamper
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kia reveals a new lineup of electric vans
Look for Kia to expand its range of battery electric vans with the launch of the PV5, the opening salvo in a new business strategy as the South Korean automaker aims to increase its production by one million units – all of them EVs. 'We at Kia are unwavering in our belief in electrification,' said Ho-Sung Song, CEO of Kia Motors at 2025 Kia EV Day, a news conference held in Tarragona, Spain near Barcelona earlier this week. To that end, Kia unveiled a new electric vehicle this week aimed at the light commercial vehicle PV5 is the first in a series of light-duty commercial vans and trucks built on the new modular Electric Global Modular Platform for Service, or E-GMP.S. Derived from Hyundai Motor Group's E-GMP EV architecture, the skateboard platform standardizes batteries, motors, modular body panels, and other components and incorporates them into an architecture that simplifies development and decreases expenditures. Kia's standard model variants will include Passenger, Cargo, Chassis-Cab, and WAV (Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle) bodies. The architecture's flexibility will allow Kia to go even further, building Crew, Drop-Side, Box Van, Freezer Box, and Light Camper models. The vehicles will be built at a dedicated plant in South Korea designed to handle small runs of special vehicles through flexible production, although what that might entail wasn't explained further. Kia will begin building the 184.6-inch-long PV5 for European and Asian markets, including Japan, a first for the Korean automaker. Whether it will come to America remains to be seen. Light trucks imported into the United States are subject to a 25% tariff enacted by Congress in 1964. There's also existing competition from Detroit automakers and their conservative, brand-loyal customers. This means that selling most PV5s in America is a no-go. The company could still import the forthcoming Light Camper or the WAV models as PV5s with value-added features and a market price that could help Kia cover the cost of the tariffs without losing money. Kia CEO Song admitted as much later during an interview. 'This is what we are studying,' Song said. 'But it's not fixed yet.' Still, even if given the go-ahead, it would be some time before the vehicle would hit our PV5 will have a 161-horsepower (120 kW) front motor producing 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque from a 51.5-kWh or 71.2-kWh NCM battery, or a 43.3-kWh LFP battery option for the PV5 Cargo. Kia says that the PV5 powertrain has a 249-mile WLTP range and can be recharged from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes using a DC fast charger. Initially, Kia will offer the three-row PV5 Passenger, which can be optimized for luggage or camping. It was initially developed with Uber for ride-sharing, so it will have a lift-up tailgate and folding seats for passenger/luggage flexibility. The automaker will also build the PV5 Cargo (High Roof), which has 180 cubic feet (5.1 meters) of space. Standard and long versions will also be available, and like any cargo van, it will be built for two passengers. An L-track mounting system, with sliding tie-down rings that can be positioned in various locations, will be optional. There will also be a 178-inch-long Chassis Cab featuring the Cargo's finished front end and an unfinished back end that can be developed into various trucks, including a Drop-Side, Box Van, and Freezer Box. The big game-changer could be the PV5 WAV, though, which was shown in concept form.'What we talk a lot about in the design team is this idea that movement is for everybody. We want everybody to be mobile,' said Jochen Paesen, Kia's Vice-President of Interior Design. 'And then we thought, well, hold on, there's actually huge opportunities; people that don't have mobility, people that maybe we don't think about enough." Typically, if you need a vehicle adapted for wheelchair or scooter use, you'll buy the vehicle and spend just as much in the aftermarket to have it retrofitted, with a total cost approaching or surpassing six figures. The PV5 WAV allows those with such needs to buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle straight from the factory. 'And coming from the factory, it's thought through,' Paesen said. Designers placed the entry ramp on the sidewalk side for safety, with a maximum weight capacity of up to 661 pounds. To accommodate wheelchairs or scooters, the second row was moved rearward to make room for mobility devices while equipping its cabin with seatbelts and a harness adapted for wheelchairs. No other automaker in the world offers such a vehicle. 'When you see it standing there, it seems super logical. But it isn't something that many people look at,' Paesen said. While it feels like the PV5 won't make it to the U.S., it offers a lot of flexibility that would make it an incredible value for a lot of audiences. The WAV is the most likely to be sold here, as it doesn't have any competition and could push other automakers to follow suit. It could even open up a segment of factory-optioned accessibility vehicles if Kia plays its cards right. We've got our fingers crossed. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
WIRED
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- WIRED
Kia Has Revealed Its Electric Camper to Rival VW's ID.Buzz
As the EV4 sedan and EV2 mini SUV round out Kia's electric offering, the brand confirms its PV5 Light Camper is inbound, and an even larger model is likely on the way. PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION: WIRED STAFF; GETTY IMAGES; KIA Kia is coming after Volkswagen's foothold on the electric camper market with its new Light Camper, built on its just announced PV5 platform. Looking to rival the much-admired the Light Camper looks to be the production version of the WKNDR concept from November last year—and Kia's boss also confirmed a larger all-electric camper is being considered, too. 'Yes, we are interested in providing a camper van—not only the Light Camper based on PV5, but also one based on PV7, too,' said Kia's president Ho-Sung Song this week at the Korean company's brand-hosted annual EV reveal day in Tarragona, Spain. Based on a new E-GMP.S platform, the mid-sized PV5 van will launch with Passenger and Cargo variations in Korea and Europe in the second half of this year at a starting price of around £29,000 ($37,000). Along with the Light Camper, other versions including a Chassis Cab, Crew Cab, Freezer Box, Drop Side and WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) will follow. Available with either a 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh battery, the more powerful version should have a max range just shy of 250 miles (30 miles or so less than the Volkswagen Kia says a 10-80 percent charge will take just 30 minutes with the right charger. At the reveal, Kia wanted to focus on the Cargo (with up to 5.1 m3 space in the back) and Passenger options, and was reluctant to talk about the coming campers, but an image of the red interior of the Light Camper was ever-so-briefly flashed up on a giant screen (see top image) during the presentation. What's more, a side exhibit at the event displayed a PV5 rear end with various camping paraphernalia including fold-out interior side tables ideal for laptops, places to hang med kits and stowage for camping gear. Built in V2L, or vehicle-to-load, means that the camper—much like most Kia's now—will be able to power any household electric appliance, which is a boon out in the wilds. Inside at the front, a 12.9in infotainment screen in the front runs an Android Automotive OS, while the driver gets a 7in digital instrument cluster. Based on the WKNDR concept, the Light Camper is intended as an 'escape pod for extended weekends in nature', and should feature a flexible modular interior that can be easily customized to maximize space or kit it out for various pursuits. Kia called its concept a 'Swiss Army Knife on wheels" which would also feature a mobile pantry for 'cooking afficionados that want to cook with a view'. So here's hoping a mobile kitchen to rival the likes of Rivian is on the cards. We're also hoping Kia's idea of installing an onboard compressor to handle adjusting tire pressure when out on the trail, and inflating mattresses when setting up camp for the night makes the production Light Camper version, too. The EV2, Kia's mini SUV aimed at the city market, is coming next year, and yes it will look as good as this. PHOTOGRAPH: KIA Looking to fill out its EV range to include an mini urban SUV, Kia has today revealed the EV2. It's a concept, yes, but the auto company has already said that it's definitely coming in 2026 and—much like all its recent concepts—the exterior will remain largely unchanged. The minimalist interior? Nope. Yes the sliding seats are fancy, but Karim Habib, head of global design at Kia, confirmed to WIRED that it was unlikely the inside will look anything like the concept offering. Before we get to that, the exterior looks like a surprisingly successful shrinking of the excellent EV9, and that's a good thing. Think of it as an SUVified Kia Soul, if you will, but with rear-hinged doors at the back which although striking, will not make it to the final production model. Destined for the European market early next year at around £25,000 (€30,000), this competes with the Renault 5, Hyundai Inster and Skoda Epiq. Powertrain details could well be subject to change, but Kia has confirmed that this entry-level EV will boast a 55 kWh battery giving 270 miles of range as well as a new LFP iteration with around 185 miles. Vehicle-to-load bi-directional charging will also feature, so this means that along with the somewhat niche design theme inspiration of "picnics in the city", the EV2 could power a post-sandwich projector and sound system set-up. Kia's EV4 boasts a a super-low drag coefficient, which helps it get a possible max range of 390 miles. PHOTOGRAPH: KIA After so many tease images it was almost no reveal at all, Kia has also taken the covers off its final production version of the EV4 sedan, which also comes in a hatchback version, too. It has 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh long-range battery options and a super-low drag coefficient of 0.23 Cd, helped by full underbody covers for better aerodynamics. This means a claimed WLTP maximum of 390 miles on the long-range model and 267 miles on the standard. For the hatchback this drops down to 367 and 255 miles respectively. Performance? The 150 kW motor will apparently be good for 0-62 mph in 7.4 seconds in this EV costing £30,500 (€37,000). The EV4's charging will be 10-80 percent in as little as 31 minutes if you find the right charger, and inside you get a typically attractive Kia interior that's been set up to at least attempt to alleviate some boredom while topping up mid-trip. Rest Mode will set the front-row relaxation seats back, as well as activate a "mood lamp to create a comforting atmosphere". The 12.3-inch, 5.3-inch and 12.3-inch screens that make up the EV4's 30-inch wide-screen display are brought to bear with in "Vehicle Smart TV", where YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, games and karaoke are on tap—plus there's support for 21:9 aspect ratio and a "Theatre Mode" which brings in interior mood lighting and the eight-speaker sound system into play. Trunk space is 490 liters (435 for the hatch), but the opening to get in there is surprisingly tight. Safety kit highway driving assist and forward collision avoidance, and there's also an assistance system called the 'Driver Package F+', which uses camera and radar to warn of hazards ahead. And mercifully a steering wheel button allows you to mute the speed-warning beeps and bongs with one touch.
