CES 2018: All-Electric Kia Niro On the Way!

Kia hasn't given any specific timeline on when the Niro EV will go into production, but we expect a late 2018 arrival. Plus its new "ACE" strategy will also make its cars more Autonomous, Connected and Eco/Electric.

He further said, the FCEV is due for launch in 2020 and "will spearhead Kia's efforts to realise a zero-emission future for mobility".

Kia's autonomous vehicle plans include a pledge to begin to commercialise level four autonomous driving technology in 2021, by beginning tests in smart cities, which will have the infrastructure needed to support such machines. Instead, Kia says the Niro EV concept has a range of 238 miles.

The 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is in full swing, and making its debut is the Kia Niro EV Concept. There's one big and obvious change, though - the lack of a standard grille (there's no need for one in an EV), which has been swapped for an interactive display.

Kia managers have not given any specific plans to produce the Niro EV Concept, but did say they plan to have 16 electrified vehicles by 2025, including five new hybrid models, five battery-electric vehicles and a fuel-cell electric auto.

Inside, there's a new wraparound design to the dashboard, finished in silver, grey, and bronze.

Kia claims the compact Niro EV will have a driving range of 383 kilometres thanks to a 64 kWh battery which powers the 150kW electric motor. There's also a safety system with cameras to detect pedestrians or cyclists and an external speaker to warn them if they don't hear the Niro EV approaching. It features a new HMI, with touch and gesture controls for the HVAC system and a touch-sensitive steering wheel.

Kia has adopted what it calls a "boundless" vision of future mobility, wherein the vehicle is no longer just a means of transportation, and developed the "ACE" action plan, which involves producing more Autonomous, Connected and Electrified cars over the course of the next decade.

Kia's human machine interface supports face and voice recognition that allows the auto to recognize who's piloting it, and then adjust the settings to their programmed preferences.

Should the system detect a pedestrian or cyclist crossing in front of the vehicle, the speakers sound an alert targeted specifically at that person, warning them of the car's presence.

Alongside its new technologies, Kia has revealed plans to roll-out its "WiBLE" car-sharing service - launched in Korea a year ago - to new regions from 2018, starting with Europe. Past year the range was expanded with the addition of a plug-in hybrid version. Kia says it'll start that process in Europe, offering one-way trips rather than demanding the vehicle be returned to the same starting point.