Koreans continue their EV assault at CES
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HYUNDAI and Kia have used this week’s Consumer Electronics Show to ramp up their electrification plans – showcasing an all-new fuelcell vehicle, and the pure-electric version of the Niro crossover.
The fourth generation of Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel-cell model is called NEXO – and it was shown in production form for the first time at the Las Vegasbased electronics exposition. It’ll arrive in Hyundai’s UK dealers, in right-hand-drive form, in 2019.
The NEXO is a svelte-looking SUV, with subtle surfacing and a ‘floating’ roof design giving it a swoopy stance. It keeps some Hyundai cues, such as the same ultra-slim daytime running lights as the recently launched Kona baby SUV, but features a more complex front grille that’s designed to reflect the fact that there’s not a combustion engine under the bonnet. That aside, though, it looks like a relatively conventional SUV.
With 95kw from the fuel cell itself and 40kw from the battery, the NEXO has a system output of 135kw. Its electric motor produces 161bhp and 395Nm of torque, enough to take the car from 0-60mph in 9.5 seconds. Its range is estimated to be around 500 miles.
The NEXO’S price is expected to be significantly cheaper than that of Hyundai’s previous fuel cell vehicle, which was based on the ix35, and sold for around £53,000.
Hyundai’s sister firm Kia used CES to complete the line-up of its Niro SUV, adding the full-electric edition to the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. The car in Vegas was ostensibly a concept, although its technical specification – a 201bhp electric motor and a 64kwh battery, with a predicted range of 238 miles – looks ready for production.
Kia had only released teaser images of the car as Auto Express closed for press, but they already reveal some ‘motor show’ flourishes, such as some form of digital display at its front end instead of the engine cooling grille.
The side profile of the concept is more familiar, although there’s additional backlighting integrated into the lower rear bumper.
The all-electric Niro is expected to arrive in production form later this year. It’ll lead a major electrification offensive from Kia, which also used CES to announce that it will offer 16 electrified vehicles by 2025, incorporating hybrid, pure-electric and fuel-cell powertrains.