The affordable electric SUV might be announced for the American markets by the end of this year
The Kia EV3 was recently spied testing in the U.S. under a heavy camouflage. The Korean auto giant wants to start selling the budget-friendly EV across various international markets. This will enable it to expand its global EV portfolio significantly. Note that driving enthusiasts will even be able to get their hands on the performance-focused AWD GT avatar of the EV3.
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Kia EV3 Seen Road Testing In The U.S.
This video clip surfaced online courtesy of kindelauto on Instagram. The visuals capture the covered EV plying on public roads. In all honesty, it isn’t that hard to recognize that it is the Kia EV3. Its silhouette, dimensions, and styling elements (whichever are partially visible) resemble the EV3 we have seen in its native market.
The rear end gives a minor glimpse of the taillights. However, the side section showcases the dual-tone aero alloys ever so slightly. That is where we are able to perceive the length and dimensions too. Towards the front fascia, the striking Star Map LED DRLs represent the latest global design philosophy, which we have seen on the other EVs from Kia.
While the details regarding the powertrain options are scarce, we know that the EV3 in the international markets possess a 58.3 kWh or an 81.4 kWh battery pack. Also, to keep costs in check, it uses a 400-volt architecture instead of 800-volt like on the bigger Kia EVs. In the single-motor configuration, the power and torque figures are 204 PS and 209 lb-ft (283 Nm), respectively. This propels the compact electric SUV from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 7.5 seconds. Needless to mention, the AWD GT trim will be much more powerful.
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Learn Electric Cars Says
The Kia EV3 was the best-selling EV in the UK in March this year. Furthermore, it will soon be on sale in other international markets including Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, the fact that it is being tested on the U.S. soil indicates that we might experience the EV as early as late this year with sales commencing from early next year. Let us see how things shape up.