This past week during the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, Kia has revealed its new all-electric concept car, 'Imagine by Kia'. Fully recognizing that automotive design is about capturing the heart and making it beat faster, VP of Design or Kia Gregory Guillaume avidly claimed that this new all-electric concept is designed not only to get your pulse racing, but also to signpost a “holistic and emotional approach to electrification.” The drivers of today have questions about range, available recharging network, and whether electric cars will still be dynamic and engaging to drive on a daily basis.
The blueprint for this new concept was reached by asking questions about electrification purely from an emotional point of view and projecting about how a human-centric attitude can help with development. Kia absolutely prides itself on the power to surprise, which is why moving away from the rational and focusing on the emotional felt necessary. Since electricity is found in every atom, harnessing its potential has propelled us forward from one innovation to the next. This is Kia's first pure electric 4-door passenger car, and it is underpinned by an induction-charged battery pack that is low-mounted and is the power source for a compact drivetrain.
You can clearly see from the image provided here the sleek and very modern essence the car evokes. All of us here on staff at Jim Butler think that it will be a definite disruptor in the marketplace, and while being somewhat familiar, will also have a completely progressive feel. This prototype features a reinterpretation of Kia's characteristic 'tiger nose' grille, while also sporting the new and illuminated 'tiger mask' that is located circling around the main LED headlamp units. The inspiration for this was the desire to create the look and feel of the headlamps being suspended within a transparent block of glass, and this identifying feature could potentially be used as a unifying design element for Kia's entire electric vehicle offerings in the days to come.
The paintwork features six hand-applied layers of chrome-effect silver paint, covered in a tanned bronze tint that produces a warm and welcoming vibe. Inside each of the 22-inch alloy wheels are four inserts of transparent acrylic glass, which completes the job of reflecting light almost as a diamond would during the cycle of the wheels. The design team paid very special attention to the aerodynamics of the vehicle, ensuring that turbulence is reduced in terms of air, and range is extended. Reduction of drag is also excellent, a key component that one notices when you bump up the speed a healthy notch and really begin to enjoy the pleasures of the open road.
When this concept finally becomes a reality and hits the lots, we are excited to check out the 21 individual ultra-high-res screens on the dashboard: with kind of a characteristic slap in the face to those oversized screens you find in many new models, it's a “wall of info” that provides for you climate control, navigation, and various driving media systems. The versatility of the all-electric architecture makes for a layout that is both spacious and open, and it is certain that this is a car that will provide an engaging and very human-focused electric experience.
