A pre-production EV5 display vehicle has arrived, allowing Kia Australia to provide a first local look at its soon-to-be-launched, fully electric medium SUV.
Launching locally in June, the EV5 range will initially be available only in Air and Earth trims, with the top GT-Line model arriving in the fourth quarter.
Both standard and long-range batteries, along with Front Wheel Drive (Single Motor) and All-Wheel-Drive (Dual Motor) drivetrains, will be offered. Application by variant will be announced closer to launch.
The Kia EV5 is the first right-hand drive product supplied by the Kia factory in China (Yancheng City, Jiangsu province).
Other firsts provided by the Chinese-sourced EV5 include a dedicated EV platform called N3 eK, which is a modularised front and rear chassis (different to the EV6 & EV9 E-GMP), and it also utilises a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery for high-efficiency.
“Kia Australia is confident the EV5 will suit the needs of many new car buyers who are considering the move into a full battery electric vehicle,” said Kia Australia’s chief executive, Damien Meredith.
“Sourcing Australia’s stock from the China factory allows us to launch earlier and secure supply of up to 850 per month, which is needed to target mainstream appeal.
“The EV5 continues our commitment to growing Kia’s electric vehicle offering with a package that will appeal to private and fleet buyers.”
“It will come with advanced active and passive safety features targeting a 5-star ANCAP rating and the latest technology you would expect to see in a new Kia model,” said Meredith.
The Kia R&D Centres in both China and Korea have developed the EV5 for Australia, with numerous engineering teams visiting and contributing to Kia Australia’s ride and handling program for the vehicle.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tuning has ensured that the EV5 is calibrated for Australian roads, traffic conditions, lane markings, speed signs, parking spaces and other configurations.
There has also been Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) testing and development of all features to ensure the quality and reliability of Over the Air updates available across all EV5 variants.
Testing and developing Australia’s public charging infrastructure across Greater Sydney and the ACT has ensured local compatibility with the EV5.
Full specifications, features, and pricing will be announced closer to the launch.
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