Kia is quickly expanding its range of electric vehicles with more SUV models and across multiple segments. Following the debut of the flagship Kia EV9 earlier this year and the upcoming EV5, which is set to be the size of a Sportage, in China, spy photographers have caught their smaller sibling, the EV4, being tested in Europe.
This test prototype is heavily camouflaged with a thick cover that hides most of the car’s body. However, we can see that it features a set of eye-catching triangle-shaped rims, giving it a futuristic look, and vertically stacked LED headlights. The pillars are painted black, similar to the larger EV5 and EV9, while the rear end reminds us of the EV6 in terms of the arrangement of the taillights.
In terms of size, it appears that the overall length of the Kia EV4 will be somewhere between the 4,195mm of the Soul and the 4,420mm of the Niro. It seems that the Korean brand wants to position its new SUV closer to the top of the B-SUV segment in terms of size, competing with recent upgrades like the Peugeot e-2008.
Like all Hyundai and Kia electric models, the EV4 is expected to be developed on the widespread E-GMP platform. However, unlike other Kia electric models that use an 800V battery pack, the EV4 may be equipped with a 400V battery pack and a single electric motor for a more affordable price. There are rumors that the starting price of the EV4 will be below $30,000, making it the cheapest Kia electric vehicle – at least until the even smaller EV3 arrives.
With the test prototype seemingly very close to the production version, it means that the launch of this model is also imminent. Reports suggest that Kia could introduce the EV4 by the end of 2023 or in the first quarter of 2024.
Trang Nguyen (Forum.autodaily.vn)
