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Two more affordable Kia electric cars will be revealed at its first EV Day conference

The Kia EV5 will be one of “three new small- to medium-sized electric models” shown off.

The first-ever ‘Kia EV Day’ is just a week away, and the South Korean brand is set to use the inaugural event to reveal not one, but two new model concepts.

Set to take place in Yeoju, Korea on the 12th of October, the Kia EV Day will consist of presentations, displays and a showcase of new technologies.

Key to the brand’s EV Day will be a “comprehensive display of the brand’s entire EV line-up, including the Kia EV5, EV6 GT and EV9”, while Kia also promises “the introduction of two new concept EVs”.

Kia also says it will provide “detailed specifications of the EV5” which rules out it being one of the new models, already expected given it’s been revealed in what will essentially be production form.

It’s likely that the next in Kia’s EV family will follow the established naming convention, so expect to see the EV3 and EV4 concepts have their covers pulled off when October 12 rolls around.

In a shadowy teaser image released by Kia, the two incoming concepts are shown in silhouette with their LED lights on to further distinguish them alongside the Kia EV6, EV5 and EV9.

Numerous reports from European media over the last few months have seen disguised testing mules of the EV4 on their streets, with the model expected to slot into a lower rung on Kia’s pricing ladder.

Kia says it will provide “detailed specifications of the EV5” at the first ever Kia EV day. (Images: MIIT via CarNewsChina)

The EV4 looks to essentially take the place of ‘electric Seltos’ in its range, while the smaller EV3 appears to come in at about the size of a Kia Stonic. This leaves room above for the Sportage-sized Kia EV5.

Though not officially by Kia, the EV5’s production form is already public thanks to the terribly kept secret that is the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Images published by the MIIT show the mid-size SUV ready to roll and looking very similar to the concept shown by Kia, though it’s not clear whether a production version will be shown off at EV Day.

Kia Australia product planning boss Roland Rivero has already confirmed to CarsGuide that the brand’s local arm would like to have the EV5 in Australia.

Kia's EV Day will be a “comprehensive display of the brand’s entire EV line-up, including the Kia EV5, EV6 GT and EV9.”

"It is still unconfirmed, but we'd love to bring the EV5 to market in Australia given a chance," he said.

Given the importance of EVs in Kia’s Australian line-up, we can expect to see Kia Australia put its hand up for the two smaller electric SUVs as well.

"Right now, what our EV products represent is really the upper end of our range, the brand enhancement and halo of our range,” Rivero said earlier this year.

“And it's having that effect of lifting not only the desirability of the Kia brand, but the desirability of just about every other product in the Kia range.

Chris Thompson
Journalist
Racing video games, car-spotting on road trips, and helping wash the family VL Calais Turbo as a kid were all early indicators that an interest in cars would stay present in Chris’ life, but loading up his 1990 VW Golf GTI Mk2 and moving from hometown Brisbane to work in automotive publishing in Melbourne ensured cars would be a constant. With a few years as MOTOR Magazine’s first digital journalist under his belt, followed by a stint as a staff journalist for Wheels Magazine, Chris’ career already speaks to a passion for anything with four wheels, especially the 1989 Mazda MX-5 he currently owns. From spending entire weeks dissecting the dynamic abilities of sports cars to weighing up the practical options for car buyers from all walks of life, Chris’ love for writing and talking about cars means if you’ve got a motoring question, he can give you an answer.
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