Kia confirms electric sports car

Kia has confirmed it’s developing nine all-new electric vehicles for global markets and one of them will be a high-performance model, with the capability of scorching from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

Kia Corporation president and CEO Ho-Sung Song revealed the new all-electric performance car program during an online global media event in Seoul today, while other top Kia executives outlined what the sleek new plug-in sports car will seek to achieve.

“Yes, we are planning to launch the high-performance version of electrified models, including our first dedicated EV which will be revealed in the first quarter of this year,” Song said.

No details were given on the body type of the vehicle, save for a shadowy silhouette that suggests it will look a bit like the two-door Kia Koup.

The vehicle in question was identified by Kia’s global design chief Karim Habib as “an agile and dynamic machine” during a pre-recorded video ‘livestreamed’ by the car-maker, which also outlined several other new EVs including a flagship SUV and what appears to be a hot hatch-cum-crossover.

To be based on the Hyundai Group’s electric global modular platform (E-GMP) which enables both rear- and all-wheel drive applications, the Kia sports car will break new ground for the car-maker.

The new EV architecture will deliver up to 500km range and ensure super-fast acceleration via multiple electric motors.

Just don’t expect a dedicated, die-hard track weapon.

That’s the word from Kia’s brand and customer experience boss Artur Martins, who said hard-core track machines will be left to Hyundai’s N division.

“The high performance of Kia is about excitement to drive, it’s not so much in the N or [BMW] M territory – to mention a different manufacturer – of being prepared for track,” he said.

“I think that’s an important difference, so all performance cars will not be track cars.”

Unlike sister brand Hyundai with its N cars, however, Kia’s coterie of go-fast machines – which already include the Kia Stinger – won’t get their own unique sub-branding.

Ho-Sung Song reiterated that the brand will not follow Hyundai’s lead with a dedicated high-performance arm, but will instead continue to market its flamboyant and exotic cars under the Kia brand.

“This is under the brand of Kia; we will not use a sub-name and we are launching [high-performance vehicles] under the Kia brand,” he said.