All-electric Kia EV6 will premiere in March as new images released

South Korean carmaker Kia has revealed images of its new all-electric EV6 and says it will officially premiere the vehicle within the next two weeks.

The EV6 is Kia’s first electric car to be built on its new modular platform known as E-GMP, and will serve as the sister model to Hyundai’s newly unveiled Ioniq 5, which will be built on the same platform.

First teased last Tuesday, the new images reveal an all-electric vehicle that from first glance has aerodynamic lines and styling that set it apart from the strapping Ioniq 5.

While Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 draws its design inspiration from the past in the form of the company’s first ever concept, the 1974 Pony, Kia’s crossover-style EV6 instead represents the carmaker’s new design philosophy which it says focuses on “human-centred, progressive design.”

“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,” said Karim Habib, senior VP and head of Kia’s global design centre in a statement.

“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.”

Sitting behind this design language is Kia’s new “opposites unite” philosophy that it says is based on five key design pillars: ‘Bold for Nature’, ‘Joy for Reason’, ‘Power to Progress’, ‘Technology for Life’, and ‘Tension for Serenity’.

Habib says that these pillars help Kia, via a collaboration between its Korean, German and Californian design offices, to deliver an “instinctive and natural experience” that seeks to improve driver’s daily lives.

All very inspiring to be sure. In practice, this adds up to an exterior with a striking windswept look to it, while the high rear end with a spoiler to channel air downwards, is designed to ensure generous volume.

On the inside, Kia says the new E-GMP platform equals extra interior volume compared to its other electric models, the e-Niro and e-Soul which lose space due to fitting the electric drivetrain and battery in a vehicle originally designed for a combustion engine drivetrain.

This means more legroom, an open centre console and a generally more spacious driving experience.

Added to that is a new approach to the dash which like other brands that are going down the electrification path is embracing a high-tech widescreen with haptic feedback that extends from behind the driver’s wheel to the centre, further enhancing the feeling of space.

Taking the message of sustainability to material use as well as vehicle emissions, Kia says it will be using recycled fabrics in the creation of “visually interesting and robust fabrics”.

Kia says it will unveil the EV6 by the end of March, but has not yet given an exact date. When and if we might expect to see it in Australia is not yet known – we’ll keep you posted.