The Kia Niro is set to spawn a fully-electric variant, as spotted by our spy photographers. As pictured, the Kia Niro EV development vehicle is undergoing cold-weather testing, and this will join a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid in the electrified Niro line-up.
Technical details have yet to be confirmed, though for reference the EV concept boasts of a 201 hp electric powertrain drawing power from a 64 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, providing the concept with a claimed driving range of 383 km.
For comparison, the plug-in hybrid Niro is powered by a 1.6 litre Kappa GDI engine producing 105 PS and 147 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 44.5 kW electric motor, fed by an 8.9 kWh battery pack, for a total system output of 141 PS and 265 Nm of torque.
The forthcoming production version’s interior has yet to be seen, though it can be expected to be visually more restrained than the concept’s and more similar to the current production Niro’s, though likely with concessions to its EV powertrain, such as a different instrument cluster. This EV will be part of the company’s strategy for 16 electrified vehicles by 2025, including a fuel-cell electric in 2020.
