Kia has launched the Niro EV in Singapore, the latest contender in an electrifying space.
It looks basically like the standard Niro hybrid that Kia has been selling here since 2016, but with slight tweaks.
The launch now is for media and corporate customers, with a consumer launch set for Q3 2019.
Looking at it from the outside, the grille has been blanked over and it sits above a pair of arrowhead-shaped daytime running lights.
The grille houses the charging port on the right underneath a concealed flap.
The charging flap is on the right on the Niro EV.
With its 455km of range, Kia is targeting with the Niro EV at private-hire drivers, as well as young couples, families and “environmentally-conscious consumers”.
That’s thanks to a 64kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is divided into five removable modules.
The pack is positioned low down beneath the boot floor to allow for maximum interior space, yet gives the Niro EV a centre of gravity akin to a sedan’s or hatchback’s.
Plugged into a 100kW fast charger, it takes just 54 minutes to recharge the Niro EV from 0 to 80 percent.
The Niro EV gets the same 201hp, 395Nm motor from the Hyundai Kona EV, good for 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds and you can pull the left paddle for more regen and the right paddle for less across four regen levels (0-3).
The interior of the Niro EV is broadly the same as the Niro hybrid, but with a redesigned centre console.
Inside the Niro Ev, the cabin gets a light blue trim, while the centre console has been simplified to feature a simple rotary gear selector.
Infotainment needs are taken care of by a 7-inch touchscreen, now updated with EV-specific features. Owners can locate nearby charging points and monitor the level of charge and remaining range from the battery pack.
“The Kia Niro EV is Cycle & Carriage’s first embarkation towards fulfilling a broader mobility vision, and will set the stage for the continuous introduction of a wider range of eco-friendly vehicles to the Singapore market over the next few years,” said Royston Soh, divisional manager of Kia Sales & Marketing, Cycle & Carriage Singapore.
Hyundai to offer 44 electric models by 2025 amid innovation push
