New Kia Niro debuts in Seoul with wild styling
Kia has unveiled the new 2023 Niro, which takes another step towards a more sustainable future. With a very attractive exterior, Niro 2023 also offers an interior made from environmentally friendly materials.
After much speculation about its design, the second-generation Kia Niro debuted in Seoul, South Korea, and like the previous model, it will be available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric versions, but the new Niro has more emphasis on styling.
Appearance of the new Niro 2023
The overall design was inspired by the 2019 Habaniro concept and has a more crossover look than the first generation Niro. It features a new interpretation of Kia's "Tiger Nose" face, with subtle trim that spans the full width of the front end. The large headlights contain the "heartbeat" and the bumper has a large mouth-shaped grille and lower skid plate element. The electric car has a slightly smaller grille, a centrally located charging port and unique details.
When you switch to the side view, things get more interesting. The glossy black body cladding that surrounds the front wheels extends almost to the rear wheels, and the entire thick C-pillar is finished in glossy black, giving the car a two-tone look.
Slim, vertical LED taillights extend towards the roof and are complemented by low-mounted light pods in the rear bumper that likely contain turn signals and reversing lights. The rear hatch is quite steep and has a large spoiler, and the tailgate has a beautiful surface. All in all, the new Niro looks incredibly cool and fits in well with Kia's design language while remaining distinctive.
What's inside the new Niro?
The interior is very reminiscent of the EV6 and electric crossover. The digital instrument cluster and central infotainment display are combined into one large screen, while the angular instrument panel flows seamlessly into the door panels.
A dial-style electronic shifter sits on the center console along with other controls, and there's a combination of physical knobs and touch buttons for climate control. Built into the dashboard are cool ambient lighting, a two-spoke steering wheel and subtle air vents. Inside, a host of sustainable materials are used, such as recycled wallpaper headlining, eucalyptus leaf fabric seats, and waterless paint on the door panels.
Power unit
No powertrain details have been released, but the hybrid and PHEV models are likely to have the same configurations as the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. A 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine is expected to be paired with an electric motor, while the PHEV will get a larger engine and battery pack to extend the electric vehicle's range.
The electric car should also have a longer range than the current model at 239 miles. In eligible countries, the Niro PHEV will have a Greenzone driving mode that automatically puts the car into EV mode in green areas such as hospitals, residential areas, and schools using navigation data, and remembers the driver's favorite places as green zones.
All three versions of the new Kia Niro will go on sale next year, with US specification details coming later.
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