Some specifications of Kia Motors’ Imagine based EV (codenamed as CV EV) have been released. Steve Kosowski, Kia Motors America Manager of Long Range Planning & Strategy said in an interview with Auto Express that the Imagine EV will have a 0-62 mph (or 0-100 km/h) in 3s to rivaling Porsche Taycan.
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The “CV” will be based on the “Imagine by Kia” concept car will also introduce a new interface to improve the convenience of operation, and the rapid charging performance (20% → 80%) is increased, reducing the charging time to 20 minutes. The maximum driving distance per charge reaches 500 km. In addition, through a technical alliance with Rimac, the same 800V voltage system as Porsche Taycan is installed, reducing the battery charge time to less than 20 minutes.
Also, in the latest interview with Kia Motors Europe COO, Emilio Herrera, he said Kia is also plotting a hot version of the EV, which is set to rival the Taycan on a performance level, he added: “We will have in the new CV EV a high performance vehicle like an e-GT.” This model will deliver Taycan-rivaling pace with a 0-62mph time of under 3s targeted, a level of performance that’s completely new for the Korean brand.
The CV EV crossover will use ‘E-GMP’, a platform dedicated to electrification developed by Hyundai Motor Group that will increase cost competitiveness by sharing this platforms in cars like Hyundai Motor’s ‘NE EV’ (this is the 45 pony-inspired EV) and Genesis’ ‘JW EV’ (which we already talked about) that will appear next year.
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E-GMP is designed to flatten the lower part of the vehicle body and optimize it for high-voltage batteries and motors for long-distance driving. Dynamometer parts such as batteries can also be easily replaced. Depending on the vehicle class, the battery capacity is variable, and the target is 500km or more.
It also supports ultra-fast charging. If you charge the JW EV with a high-power charger at the ultra-fast charging station you are currently building, you can charge up to 80% in 20 minutes. Hyundai Motor Group plans to install a 350-kW electric vehicle ultra-fast charger in major cities such as Seoul and 12 highway rest areas within this year.
The car’s styling will take inspiration from the Imagine by Kia concept. During the launch of the Imagine concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the recently resigned chief designer, Luc Donkerwolke, suggested that little would need to change between the show car and the production-ready crossover. He said: “I don’t see anything that’s really not feasible. There are some cost-related issues that have to be validated; but it hasn’t been done by designers who don’t understand how to build a car for production.” “This is not a free exercise. It’s not just a last-minute car for Geneva. It has a purpose. This is more business than show. We are definitely not entertaining here, but actually communicating with our customers.”
