Kia has taken the covers off the all-electric version of the Niro SUV, with the South Korean brand claiming it can go 279 miles on a single charge.
The EV model joins the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, with this latest option coming to the UK market at some point in the next year.
It will first go on sale in South Korea in the second half of this year, and it offers an altered design to help improve the efficiency and range of the vehicle.
The electric motor powered by the 64kWh battery pack produces 201bhp and 395Nm of torque, leading to a 0-60mph time of just 7.6 seconds. When connected to a 100kW fast charger, the battery pack can be charged to 80 per cent in 54 minutes.
Many of the front panels have been smoothed over to offer a more aerodynamically efficient body and this new model takes inspiration from the EV Concept first shown at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Other design features include arrowhead-styles LED daytime running lights, 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels and a charging port integrated into Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille.
Inside, it comes a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but comes with EV-suited features, such as enabling owners to find charging points and monitor the level of charge and range. The instrument cluster is also a seven-inch screen, which is also unique to the EV in the Niro range, and there’s also a wireless smartphone charger.
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Assistance systems are also fitted, such as forward collision warning, smart cruise control and lane following assist.
Emilio Herrera, Kia Motors Europe chief operating officer, said: “The Niro’s new all-electric powertrain rounds off a trio of low-emissions powertrains available to European buyers, alongside the current hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.
“A combination of cool crossover design and advanced powertrains led to more than 28,000 Niro sales across Europe in 2017, making it one of our best-selling models. The Niro EV further demonstrates the progress Kia has made in delivering comfortable, practical and fun-to-drive vehicles that lead the way in zero-emissions driving.”
Details on the UK version will be released in due course, with the model expected on these shores in the first half of 2019.
