Kia Motors is just really busy these days. Winning awards, releasing the new Kia K5 and Kia Sorento, and even announced a new luxury sedan, the Kia K8. Now, for something we’ve all been waiting for. In 2019, Kia Motors announced a new focus on creating all-electric vehicles and becoming an all-electric automaker like Tesla. In the same year, the first Kia electric vehicle concept was the Futuron, followed by another concept in 2020 for Kia electric vehicles. Finally, in 2021, it all adds up to the new Kia EV6.
The EV6 is Kia Motor’s first dedicated battery-electric vehicle (BEV). Boasting a new design philosophy and the automaker’s shift towards electrification with its Plan S strategy, the EV6 is already showing off new technology with the powertrain developed by Kia Motors and the Hyundai Motor Group. Known as the brand’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), this was unveiled towards the end of 2020, so we knew something had to be in the works to make use of this, and thus the EV6 is born!
“EV6, as the first dedicated Kia EV, is a showcase of human-centered, progressive design and electrified power. We strongly believe EV6 is a compelling and relevant model for the new EV market…With EV6 we aimed to create a distinctive, impactful design by using a combination of sophisticated, high-tech features on pure and rich volumes, while providing a unique space as a futuristic EV.” – Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center
Built around a new philosophy for future vehicles, Kia is calling this new design philosophy “Opposites United”. This probably has something to do with the best of both worlds – a modern vehicle with comfort and tech, plus an ell-electric zero-emissions powertrain. The philosophy itself is based around five pillars – Bold for Nature, Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life, and Tension for Serenity. Each one can be plainly seen in the exterior and interior of the EV6.
Like nature, the exterior is a combination of clear and simple lines, shapes one may find in nature, and the interior comes with organic, yet technical structures and finishes. Expressing a sense of joy and playfulness, Kia Motors will be designing future vehicles that influence the mood of passengers to relax and inspire. Throughout Kia’s recent era of design-led transformation, the automaker has progressed towards future projects that will continue to evolve with new and innovative designs. As mentioned, Kia Motors has been working on machine-human interaction, and with a next-generation in-car user experience (UX), the automaker may have succeeded in allowing consumers to interact with their vehicles on a more personal level. Altogether, it’s truly a harmonized, future-oriented design vision of man and machine.
With a sleek, modern appearance, the front-fascia of the EV6 dons the new ‘Digital Tiger Face’, an electrified version of Kia’s ‘Tiger Nose Grille’. Made with daytime running lamps, they form a ‘sequential’ dynamic light pattern. Below the fascia is a low air intake that makes the vehicle look wider, but also allow for optimum aerodynamics with air flow from the front channeled underneath. The sporty swept-back look of the windshield returns and comes back for an encore in the rear with a sloping rear C-pillar that widens the rear window glass.
Inside, there is some interesting new tech. The most outstanding has to be the seamless high-tech curved high-definition audio visual and navigation (AVN) screen, offering an open and spacious feel versus cramming everything into a center console. With less buttons to fiddle with, there’s more time to enjoy the drive. Even crazier, the push of a button will cause the dashboard to slope away towards the front of the car for a greater sense of space and openness for the front-seat passengers. We wonder if this is also hinting at some autonomous self-driving technology. Hard to control a vehicle with the steering wheel a foot away from your hands.
Bound to make its premier this month (March 2021) during a special online event, be sure to follow us on Miami Lakes Kia social media for updates.
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