Kia Sonet EV Spotted Testing In India
Kia recently launched its flagship EV- the EV9 in India. It now has a total of two electric vehicles on sale- the EV6 and EV9. The Korean manufacturer is expected to launch more affordable EVs in the coming years. It will soon enter the mass-market EV space. A slew of launches are expected, one of which will be the Sonet EV. It has now been spotted testing in India, wearing heavy camouflage.
The camo hides almost all the exterior design cues. The proportions and silhouette remain familiar. The dimensions could also stand similar to those of the outgoing model. The person who spotted the vehicle reportedly confirmed that the vehicle had no engine sound and there were no tailpipes either. These suggested that the prototype was an EV. Though not clear from the pictures, the rear bumper could get design changes to go vocal about the SUV’s EV genes.
The Sonet is quite popular in India and currently comes in NA petrol, turbo-petrol and diesel powertrain options. Building an EV out of the ICE would be an easy approach for the manufacturer. A lot of key components will then be shared between the EV and ICE versions. A similar approach was undertaken by Tata Motors to build the Nexon EV. It helps to optimize R&D costs and price the product competitively upon launch.
It is anticipated that the production form of the Sonet EV will launch in mid-2025. It will compete with the Nexon EV and the XUV 400. Little is known about the specifications to be expected or the battery size. It would be safe to expect these to be comparable to those of the competitors. The range could be more than 450 km on a single charge. There will likely be both standard-range and long-range versions of it.
The Sonet EV could get new colour options to make it stand out. Expected design changes are an EV-spec grille and new wheels with low-resistance tyres among others. The cabin will likely see small styling tweaks and there could also be a new UI for the infotainment unit. It could also get more features.
Like the ICE counterpart, the EV will have a 10.2-inch display supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bose premium speakers, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, a single-pane sunroof, auto climate control with rear AC vents, air purifier and Level-1 ADAS.
More Mass Market EVs Coming From Kia
Kia is also known to be working on an electric version of the Carens. It will encompass the manufacturer’s new design DNA. Test mules of it were recently spotted on test. On the design front, we expect it to have a revised fascia and new rear design. There will be C-shaped LED elements, full width LED light bar, EV grille etc.
It will be underpinned by the same platform as the upcoming Creta EV and will share the powertrains as well. A 45 kWh or larger battery pack is expected. The EV will have a front wheel drive layout. Upon launch, the EV will compete with the recently launched BYD eMAX 7.
Kia is also rumoured to be working on a compact SUV that will sit between the Sonet and Seltos. Expected to be called the Syros, this model could also spawn an EV in the forthcoming years.
Image source: Motorbeam