Automotive

Kia Naimo electric concept makes debut in Seoul

Kia Naimo electric concept makes debut in Seoul
Kia Naimo Concept - 125 mile range and 150 km/h top speed
Kia Naimo Concept - 125 mile range and 150 km/h top speed
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Kia Naimo Concept
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Kia Naimo Concept
Kia Naimo Concept
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Kia Naimo Concept
Naimo sports a a transparent OLED display behind the wheel
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Naimo sports a a transparent OLED display behind the wheel
Kia Naimo Concept
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Kia Naimo Concept
Kia Naimo Concept - 125 mile range and 150 km/h top speed
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Kia Naimo Concept - 125 mile range and 150 km/h top speed
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Kia added to its electric vehicle concept line-up at the Seoul Motor Show today with the world premiere the Naimo electric crossover utility. Designed as a five-door, four-seater urban runabout, the Naimo is powered by an 80 kW electric motor which Kia says produces maximum torque of 280 Nm and will deliver a top speed of 150 km/h, while the 27 kWh Lithium Ion Polymer battery promises a range of around 125 miles (200 km) on a single charge.

Naimo (pronounced "Neh-mo") means square shape, which is the starting point for a design which has an emphasis on simple lines – throw in the dot-style LED headlamps and the front-view takes on a kind-of hockey-mask feel.

The 3.9-meter (12.8-ft) long design does away with B-pillars and rear-hinged rear doors optimize access. Rear-view mirrors and traditional wipers are also scrapped in favor of miniature cameras and "air wipers" which clear water using a high-intensity air jet located at the base of the windscreen.

Inside, Korean oak replaces carpet underfoot and like the POP concept shown last year, the Naimo sports a a transparent OLED display behind the wheel.

Kia Naimo Concept
Kia Naimo Concept

Along with the 125 mile range (which would put the car ahead of the 100 mile per charge Nissan LEAF), Kia says the Naimo can be recharged to 80 per cent of its capacity within 25 minutes using a 50kW quick charge, with a full-charge taking five and a half hours using a conventional outlet.

There's no confirmed plan to take the Naimo to market but it will become part of Kia's test fleet of hybrid, electric and fuel-cell vehicles that are being put through their paces with a view to developing future production models.

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5 comments
5 comments
Bill Bennett
fugly
Adrian Akau
The power system seems adequate. The repacement of traditional rear view mirrors and wipers is very good but the car is not very asthetic in appearance unless you care for a boxy style. It may sell well with the present horrendous rising of gasoline prices. I paid $4.59/gal last week but the price has already risen by at least $.10 more. The demand for electric cars will be increasing as the problems in the Middle East cause us to fear for oil security and with the Tsunami disaster in Japan affecting vehicle production, a good electric car from Korea may help immensely. Right now, we have, in Honolulu, well over 300 buyers waiting for their LEAF\'s. If the price per gallon hits the $5 mark, you may be certain that the people here would become most interested in purchase of the Naimo if the price is similar to that of the LEAF.
Facebook User
Dear Adrian, I paid Eur 1.67/liter last week, locally. That is $8,99/gal
In my country, we pay 19% VAT and up to 45% BPM on big luxury cars. Only the smallest mini petrol cars (Toyota Aygo etc) are BPM free.
If we were so hung up on the price we pay for personal transportation, don\'t you think somewhere like 25% of the cars here would be electrical? I spend a good deal of my job on the road, but I don\'t see them. None whatsoever. We GLADLY pay well over 50% tax to drive a big SUV or station wagon, and we GLADLY pay over %100 tax on petrol.
Facebook User
BEAT THAT CHEVY VOLT...!!!
Facebook User
Why it is so ugly and nerdy? Can they build electricity car that looks like a Ferrari? They need to hire some Italian ID people.