What's the news?
Kia will bring along an exciting electric concept coupe to the Geneva motor show. It's a car that, in something of a continuing trend for Kia, bucks the brand's reputation for solid, sensible, family motoring and instead goes straight for the emotional jugular with some raw sexy appeal.
We don't have much in the way of technical detail as yet. In fact we have none, but we can see from the single image that Kia has thus far released that the concept will have a very low, ground-hugging snout that has more than a hint of seventies muscle car about it. A touch of the original Plymouth Superbird, maybe? There are tiny, aero-friendly cameras mounted on the doors, in place of conventional wing mirrors, and instead of the usual Kia radiator grille, the shape of the distinctive 'Tiger Face' has been replicated in a continuous loop of LED daytime running lights.
"Automotive design is about capturing the heart and making it beat that bit faster for that bit longer - and we believe that there's absolutely no reason why that should change simply because the car is electric," says Gregory Guillaume, Vice President of Design for Kia Motors Europe.
"We imagined designing an all-electric car that not only answered consumer concerns around range, performance, recharging networks and driving dynamism, but one that also gave you goose bumps when you looked at it, and made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you drove it," explains Guillaume. "That's why our all-electric concept is designed to not only get your pulse racing, but to also signpost our holistic and emotional approach to electrification."
Kia has already staked a significant claim in the electric car market with the eNiro, which with its 450km single-charge range can put significantly more mileage between charges than most rivals. It'll be fascinating to see what Kia has planned next for its electric car journey, and we'll find out more on March 5th.