Kia, not content with confirming that the new Seltos small SUV will be coming to Ireland (see our news story here), is also getting ready to reveal the production version of the new electric EV2.
When can I see the EV2?
You'll be able to see Kia's new electric crossover - which, unsurprisingly, will sit under the EV3 in the lineup - on 9 January at the Brussels motor show, a show which seems to have picked up some of the slack left by the departure of the old Geneva show.
What is the EV2?
It's a small electric SUV, designed to compete with the likes of the BYD Atto2 and the Renault 4 E-Tech. We've already seen it in concept car form (more on that here), and it should arrive with a price tag of less than €30,000.
Kia's not been forthcoming with tech details yet - expect more of that in January - but we suspect the EV2 will use the smaller 58kWh battery pack from the EV3 and EV4 and should have a range of at least 450km.
You can also pretty safely expect 128kW fast charging that takes about 30 minutes to get from 10-80 per cent battery charge, because that's exactly what the EV3 and EV4 manage.
What else do we know?
Well, it's not very likely that the EV2 concept's rear-hinged back doors will make the transition to production (although our fingers remain crossed) but this is going to be a hugely significant vehicle for Kia in Ireland - its EV6 and EV3 have already become electric market best-sellers in Ireland, and the new EV5 (kinda like an electric Sportage) looks set to follow suit. The EV2's likely affordable price could be a tipping point for many who are currently wavering about whether to buy an electric car or not.
"With the EV2, we reaffirm our commitment to make electric mobility truly accessible to a broader audience - without compromise,” said Marc Hedrich, President & CEO of Kia Europe. "This compact SUV delivers the innovation and the spirit of our larger EVs while fitting seamlessly into everyday life in Europe. Designed, developed, and soon to be produced in Europe, we are confident that the EV2 will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of responsible mobility across the region.”