“It’s a capable all-rounder that takes you out of your comfort zone. A compact, nimble SUV that expresses the character of new adventures and unlocks the possibilities for an active urban lifestyle”. That’s how Karim Habib introduced the EV2 Concept, unveiled last year in Spain. And the head of Kia Global Design confirms this description now that the model has gone into production: “The initial briefing was to create an affordable EV for those wanting an everyday companion for the city and beyond. The goal was to create an unapologetically desirable entry EV”.
Proposals from all the design centres
The EV2 plays a key role in Kia’s full-electric range. Which is why the project launch involved the brand’s entire international team, namely the design centres in South Korea, California, China and Europe. Everyone came up with at least a couple of proposals. “We were asked to design a car smaller than the EV3, with a length of just over 4 metres, but with plenty of room on board”, says Oliver Samson, head of Kia Europe’s Frankfurt-based studio, who was responsible for the basic exterior styling theme (although he is quick to point out that he found the project there waiting for him when he arrived in April 2024).
The height worked to advantage the designers
The dedicated EV platform made the designers’ task easier: “It allowed us to position the wheels at the extremes, extending the wheelbase as much as possible and thus obtaining more interior space. Part of the architecture is obviously also determined by the presence of the batteries in the floor, which means extra height, but in this case it worked to our advantage because we wanted a decidedly upright body configuration”.
Specific taglines
Samson says the project had to deliver on specific taglines. “One of these was “Picnic in the city“, i.e. the vehicle had to be ideal for exploring the urban environment and driving in traffic, but could also be used as a private space, for having a snack or talking with friends, exploiting the versatility of the interior”. This is confirmed by the numerous storage compartments, some of which are modular (one is refrigerated), the split, sliding rear seat offering more space to passengers or to the luggage compartment, and the smart solutions available once on board.
“Pocket SUV”
Another tagline focused on the concept of “Pocket Suv”: “It had to look rugged and solid, and the vertical architecture helped us a lot. This is evident in the angle of the windscreen as well as in the rear view and the sides. We wanted to avoid overly dynamic elements. Verticality is something you expect in larger SUVs, such as the EV9, and we tried to condense similar features into the EV2 as well”. The result is a two-volume vehicle with a bold stance, wraparound glazing and two prominent wheel arches on to which a cabin with perpendicular walls is grafted.
A tagline for the interior too
The tagline for the interior was based on a proposal from the Korean design centre, “Press pause to play”, as explained by Jochen Paesen, now head of Kia Future Design but at the time of the project responsible for interior design and CMF, the colour and trim division: “That tagline implies that the vehicle is not just for getting from point A to point B, but is part of what happens on the journey, with ample space on board compared to its compact exterior and lots of smart solutions for every situation. An ideal place to be, playful and capable of standing out from other products on the market”.
(Full article in A&D no. 277)
