Kia fully unveils EV6 with new design philosophy

Kia Corp. has now revealed full images of the EV6, its first dedicated electric vehicle (EV), ahead of the car’s world premiere on Mar. 30. The brand unveiled teaser images of the EV earlier this month on Mar. 9.

Kia on Mar. 15 shared exterior and interior details of the EV6, which according to the company was designed under its new design philosophy: Opposites United.

Opposites United takes inspiration from the contrasts found in nature and the human world, such as simple straight lines versus ever-changing surfaces, or organic shapes versus technical structures.

The design philosophy experiments with these contrasting combinations to realize a harmonized, future-oriented design vision, according to the company.

The philosophy, which makes its debut in the EV6, will inform the design of all future Kia models moving forward.

EV6 DESIGN FEATURES

EV6’s front exterior features the car’s newly designed Digital Tiger Face, an EV-renovation of Kia’s representative Tiger Nose Grille used in its gasoline-powered K-series.

The Digital Tiger Face is composed of daytime running lights giving a sleek appearance, with the lamp design presenting a sequential dynamic “moving light pattern,” and a low air intake below the lights visually widening the car’s view from the front. 

The side profile of EV6 delivers a simple yet aerodynamic design, by contrasting sharp lines with high-tech details to create a sense of aesthetic tension and movement.

The rear displays a futuristic LED cluster with an integrated black glossy insert, granting the windows a wider view.

A key feature of the new EV’s interior is a curved high-definition audiovisual and navigation (AVN) screen. The wide curved screen and the slim dashboard create a unique spatial driving experience, according to Kia.

The center console below the AVN screen is also noteworthy, with a minimal number of buttons for an uncluttered user experience.

“The EV6 is a showcase of human-centered, progressive design and electrified power. We aimed to create a distinctive, impactful design by using a combination of sophisticated, high-tech features on pure and rich volumes, while providing a unique space as a futuristic EV,” added Karim Habib, senior vice president and head of Kia Global Design Center.

KIA’S NEW DESIGN PHILOSOPHY: OPPOSITES UNITED

Kia’s Opposites United design philosophy is based on five thematic pillars: Bold for Nature, Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life and Tension for Serenity.

The Bold for Nature theme aims to capture the driver's interaction with nature; while Joy for Reason adopts organic materials and daring colors to express a sense of youth and playfulness.

Its Power to Progress theme highlights the company’s ability to draw on creativity to invent new designs, while Technology for Life embraces new technologies to foster positive interactions between humans and machines.

Tension for Serenity resonates with the new design philosophy’s focus on contrast, by aiming to evoke tension and reach an equilibrium of design at the same time.  

“We want our products to deliver an instinctive and natural experience that improves the daily lives of our customers. Our aim is to design the physical experience of our brand and to create original, inventive, and exciting electric vehicles,” commented Karim Habib on Kia’s new design philosophy.

Write to Sun A Lee at suna@hankyung.com
Daniel Cho edited this article.