The second-generation Kia Niro might be unveiled at the Seoul Mobility Show on November 25. The South Korean car manufacturer has been testing the new Niro for quite some time now. We know it will take design inspiration from the HabaNiro concept that was unveiled in early 2019, and while Kia hasn’t announced a launch date for it, The Korean Car Blog cites industry sources that claim we will see it next week.
Recent spy shots of heavily-camouflaged
prototypes have revealed the new Niro will sport unique LED headlights with
distinctive daytime running lights, while, the body of the new Niro will have a
slightly edgier shape than the outgoing model. Key HabaNiro cues will be
visible from the rear where the new model sports boomerang-shaped LED
taillights that stretch up the rear pillars.
A number of different hybrid, plug-in
hybrid and electric powertrains should be offered for the 2023 Niro. While
details haven’t been confirmed, they might be similar to the first-generation
model. That could mean a hybrid variant that rocks a 1.6-liter four-cylinder,
an electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack that gives the current car a
total of 139 hp and 264 Nm of torque. The outgoing plug-in hybrid
has a larger 8.9 kWh battery pack that gives it 42 km of
electric-only range.
Of most interest will be the new Niro EV.
The first-gen model has a 201 hp electric motor fed by a 64 kWh battery pack,
providing the vehicle with a range of 385 km, as per the EPA. Kia
will be on the right track if it manages to increase power and range figures
for the new model.
