Seoul, Korea

“Kia EV6, as the first dedicated EV, is a showcase of human-centered, progressive design and electrified power,” states Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Design Center, Kia.

“We strongly believe EV6 is a compelling and relevant model for the new EV market.” 

“With EV6, 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.” 

Karim Habib and Jochen Paesen’s EV6 is Kia’s first car design after officially launching its new brand identity. 

Kia’s EV6 is also the company’s first dedicated BEV to be influenced by the new design philosophy, which marks the company’s shift toward electrification.

So, there was a lot of pressure to set a whole new standard during the EV6 journey. 

But the incredible spirit of the team and people made it possible to create a fantastic, inspiring car.

As an iconic moment in design, the new KIA EV6 recently has been awarded a 2021 Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Habib’s Kia EV6 was born from the brand’s new design concept, “Opposites United,” which is inspired by natural and human opposites. New visual identity, with bold stylistic components and geometric shapes, is at the heart of the design philosophy. 

According to Habib, all future Kia models will be designed using the Opposites United design philosophy. “Bold for Nature,” “Joy for Reason,” “Power to Progress,” and “Technology for Life,” as well as “Tension for Serenity,” are the five key design pillars. 

Bold for Nature is based on nature’s interaction and is influenced by the natural and human world’s details, shapes, and proportions. 

A combination of clean, uncomplicated lines and dramatic, ever-changing surfaces is used to create vehicle interiors with organic yet technical structures and finishes. 

Joy for Reason focuses on Kia’s future automobiles’ feel and atmosphere. 

Future designs will combine the emotional with the intellectual, resulting in vehicles that influence passengers’ moods by calming and inspiring them to be more productive and creative. As a result, more organic materials and bold hues will be adopted, which will portray a sense of youthfulness and playfulness. 

Power to Progress builds on the brand’s current design strengths. 

To ensure that Kia’s designs and layouts remain innovative, the company will continue to build upon its recent design-led transformation and build on the talents and expertise it has acquired. 

To create and innovate new ideas, future designs will rely on experience and ingenuity. 

Technology for Life promotes healthy interactions between humans and machines by embracing new technologies and breakthroughs. 

Customers will be able to better interact with their automobiles in the future thanks to improvements in lighting, feel, and in-car connection. 

Tension for Serenity emphasizes the tension between opposing forces and creative contrasts, as well as the design balance that results from two conflicting forces. 

Surface tension is created by sharp, highly technological elements used to produce surface tension – and a coordinated, future-oriented design goal is realized through this approach. 

“Power to Progress” is embodied in EV6’s design. Evolving design strengths. 

The Kia EV6 is the sum of talents and expertise acquired throughout Kia’s transformative design journey; exploring the future. 

Daytime running lights on the front give the vehicle a clean, modern appearance. 

For Kia, they are part of the “Electrified Tiger Face,” an evolution of the company’s “Tiger nose Grille.” 

Also included in the design of the lamps is a dynamic ‘sequential’ light pattern. 

As a result, the front of the automobile appears wider, enhancing its high-tech appearance. 

The air is directed through and under the car’s flat floor for optimal aerodynamics as part of the optimization of airflow from the front. 

With a crossover-inspired side profile, the design is streamlined and aerodynamic while being modern and elegant. 

A sense of tension is created in the design by contrasting this with crisp lines and high-tech elements in addition, a swept-back windscreen and bold rear haunches provide volume. 

In order to visually lengthen the car’s profile, there is a character line that goes up from the door bottoms to the rear wheel arches. 

With an integrated black glossy insert that visibly enlarges the window glass, the rear C-pillar slopes downward to provide maximum aerodynamic efficiency. 

Un noticeable roof spoiler feeds air downhill onto a higher lower spoiler that sits atop the unusual rear light cluster of the vehicle. 

Designing an exterior is like designing the cover of a book—it’s where everyone makes their first impression. 

So, Habib wanted to impart a solid character that expresses the evolution of the brand’s strengths in the exterior design. 

The result is a robust combination of clear and simple lines with bold surfaces. 

And the rear part is the hidden beauty of the EV6. The bold rear haunches and pure, rich volume on the rear shoulder were designed to encourage people to “experience” the EV6 by reaching out and touching it and feeling it. 

The EV6 is an electrified speedster. As a result, it can produce some really potent acceleration. 

Among all versions of the EV6, the EV6 GT trim is the icing on the cake — it provides the most dynamic performance based on the highest level of power. It can instantaneously deliver power to the vehicle, accelerating from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 260km/h. 

What’s more, drift mode comes standard on EV6 for even more excitement.

While performance is a critical feature in choosing a car, it is not the first thing that catches your eye. 

Design is.

Design is where inspiration starts. 

Every space that surrounds you is also a source of inspiration. 

Focusing on spaces, inside and out, the designers created a personal inspiration room for the EV6. 

And, the interior design seems unique and futuristic as well.

When Habib and Paesen designed the EV6, their foremost goal was to make it into an inspiring space by providing a fun-to-drive experience for the driver. 

Therefore, the space had to be focused on the driver and the most comfortable space on the road.

Because the E-GMP platform offers more space than prior Kia EVs based on existing model architecture, the interior design is unique to the EV age. The interior design of the EV6 showcases an innovative use of space, resulting in a unique driving and spatial experience for the driver. 

A seamless high-tech curved high-definition audiovisual and navigation (AVN) screen is one of the most noticeable components of the new interior. 

Because of its broad curved screen and compact dashboard, this vehicle has an airy atmosphere. 

There is an instrument cluster in the driver’s line of sight in front of the center console and infotainment and navigation above it. 

With its wide display, it offers a more immersive driving experience, and its minimum button count offers an uncluttered and relaxing driving experience. 

Drivers may adjust HVAC settings using haptic “buttons” beneath the AVN screen, while the dashboard slides outward from the front of the car to give the front-seat passengers a sense of spaciousness and openness. 

As a result of the use of recycled polymers, the seats are narrow and light and have a modern, visually attractive, and strong fabric. 

This allows for a greater sense of space within the cabin. 

The seat is also one of the most essential parts of the driver’s comfort. 

So, the seats in the EV6 were designed in a distinctive ‘S’ shape that not only set them apart but improved their overall safety.

One of the top goals in developing the EV6 was to overcome the most common pain point of driving an EV — charging. 

Time waits for no one, and we wanted our cars to charge quickly. That is one of the reasons we built the EV6 on an optimized platform, like the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

Fortunately, Kia was able to opt for both.

As a result, the EV6 can be charged from 10% up to 80% in just 18 minutes in terms of charging speed. 

That is a huge time saver compared to what other EVs offer. 

Even better, super-fast charging will stay online whatever the weather — from freezing to scorching temperatures.

The fast charging time was made possible by building it for an 800V charging infrastructure. 

That said, most EV charging systems run on 400V. Luckily, a multi-charging system makes EV6 compatible with both 800V high-speed charging systems and mainstream 400V charging systems even without a special adapter. 

Speed and compatibility, all in one beautiful package.

Project: Kia EV6
Designers: Kia Motors Corporation
Manufacturer: Kia Motors Corporation