KIA Motor Company vp and head of worldwide enterprise planning Spencer Cho has informed world media assembled for this week’s reveal of the EV3 compact SUV that the model is working to prepared a GT efficiency model of the mannequin.
Whereas Mr Cho didn’t affirm timing for the high-performance variant, he did trace that the mannequin will utilise the identical underpinnings on the all-wheel drive EV9. Which means the EV3 GT may output as a lot as 283kW and 700Nm – doubtlessly making it sooner than the present EV6 GT that boasts a 0-100km/h time of simply 3.5 seconds.
“The EV3 may have dual-motor variations when the time comes. After all, we are going to unveil first with the front-wheel drive (earlier than asserting) when the dual-motor variations will grow to be obtainable,” he mentioned.
“The (mannequin) would be the EV3 GT. One in every of our overarching product methods is that every one our EV fashions may have a GT variant.”
Mr Cho mentioned that due to its E-GMP structure, the EV3 may have supplied front- or rear-wheel drive configuration in its base type, the platform permitting the flexibleness to supply drive to every axle individually, or to each as within the case of the GT variant.
In its base format, the EV3 might be entrance wheel pushed, owing primarily to packaging and value issues. Kia goals to launch the mannequin with a value level of between $35,000 and $50,000 relying on variant, making it a direct rival to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS, amongst others.
“The EV3 is constructed on our E-GMP platform … a modular platform that may develop rear-wheel drive fashions, or front-wheel drive fashions, or all-wheel drive fashions, no matter we would like,” he added.
“Within the case of the EV3, our E-GMP platform might be (configured as a) front-wheel drive to focus on prospects who’re in search of an inexpensive electrical automobile … it’ll provide differing advantages to these of the EV6 or EV9, that are larger and extra high-performance fashions.
“As a substitute, the (quantity) EV3 mannequin will goal mainstream EV3 patrons, and that’s the reason we now have chosen the E-GMP platform with front-wheel drive. It’s a a lot lighter platform that permits advantages (together with a cheaper price) to these prospects.”
Hinting on the proposed design of the EV 3 GT, Kia government vp and head of worldwide design Karim Habib steered the variant will tackle a personality nearer to that of the GT-Line grade, with extra color coding of its physique cladding and garnishing.
“The GT we might be speaking about a bit later. However on the subject of the GT-Line, which may also be obtainable once we launch the automobile, it has the intention of being a bit sportier, a bit bit extra dynamic,” he mentioned.
“We targeted a bit extra on integrating the physique color on the outside, so there’s much less if in any respect when it comes to steel garnish. We received’t have any on the outside.
“We’ll give attention to a kind of triangular wing that we now have on the entrance and within the rear, and naturally within the inside we now have our (grade) particular colors and materials idea in addition to GT-Line steering wheel that we are going to have as properly.”
The Kia EV3 is because of begin sale in its dwelling market in July (2024) and Europe within the latter half of the yr. GoAuto understands the mannequin might be launched in Australia in early 2025.
