Saar: While the concept was showcased at the 2018 CES, the finished product was unveiled at the fifth International Electric Vehicle Expo in South Korea.

Kia Motors chose the fifth International Electric Vehicle Expo in South Korea to unveil the production-ready specimen of the Niro EV. It becomes only the second pure electric product from the South Korean carmaker. The first was the Soul EV which is on sales in several markets around the globe.

Since Kia Motors is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, it was inevitable that the EV tech will be shared between the two. The all-electric powertrain in the Kia Niro EV is essentially the same as the one that features in the Hyundai Kona EV. Like the Kona EV, the Niro EV will be offered with two battery pack options – 39.2kWh and 64kWh. Needless to say, it will be the bigger battery that will run for longer between charges. Mathematically speaking, the range for the bigger and smaller battery packs is claimed to be 380km and 240km respectively on a single charge.

Also Read: Wireless Charging Tech Tested On Kia Soul EV

What is worth noticing is that both those battery packs are bigger than that of the Soul EV’s, which packs just 30kWh worth of juice. That gives the smaller EV a range of a smidge under 180km. Surprisingly, Kia Motors did not mention the power figures for the Niro EV. But since the battery packs are from the Hyundai Kona EV, we suspect the power figures will be identical too. The smaller battery pack is likely to be paired with 135PS electric motor, whereas the bigger battery should have a stronger 204PS electric motor. For the record, this isn’t the first electrified Niro that Kia will produce. The Niro is already on sale with a hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain.

In terms of features, the Niro EV keeps all the goodies from the standard range. However, in its EV iteration, the Niro gets a textured but plain front grille which hides the charging port. Also new are the restyled air intakes with green highlights and arrow-shaped LED DRLs. The green coloured accents are part of the front and rear bumpers while the sporty side skirts and 17-inch alloy wheels are on offer too.

Kia Motors revealed the Niro EV Concept at the 2018  Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The finished product has been toned down to fit the feasibility criteria. The company claims it has already received over 5,000 bookings for the Kia Niro EV in just three days. South Korea will be the first market where it will go on sale, followed by the US and some markets in Europe. Kia also has plans to bring EVs to India. However, chances of the Niro EV coming on our shores look bleak.