TOKYO – Kia, in teasing its first next-generation electrical automobile, is adopting a brand new nomenclature for the upcoming sequence that leaves little doubt about its lineage.

The names of the brand new battery-powered automobiles will begin with the prefix EV, adopted by a quantity. And the primary entry driving on Kia’s new devoted all-electric platform would be the EV6.

“All of Kia’s new devoted BEVs will begin with the prefix ‘EV’ which makes it straightforward for shoppers to grasp which of Kia’s merchandise are totally electrical,” Kia Corp. introduced Tuesday in South Korea.

The EV6 electrical crossover will make its world premiere within the first quarter, Kia added.

Forward of that unveiling, Kia teased silhouette pictures of the EV6, exhibiting a low-riding crossover with a brief hood, elongated cabin and steeply raked rear window. Sporty rear fender flares present a strong, planted look, whereas funky wrap-around taillights challenge a high-tech, digital really feel.

The pincher-like accent lighting across the entrance headlamps can be a brand new design cue for Kia.

Kia, which dumped “Motors” from its company identify and adopted a brand new emblem earlier this yr as a part of a model remake, needs to develop into a world chief in EVs with annual gross sales of 500,000 EVs by 2026. The reboot begins this yr with the introduction of the EV6.

That might be adopted by a number of extra EVs, which Kia hinted at in January. The mockups teased then included a crossover, commuter automotive, SUV, sedan and probably a sporty automotive.

The corporate hopes to seize 6.6 p.c of the worldwide battery-electric automobile market by 2025. The purpose is to have EVs generate 20 p.c of Kia’s worldwide gross sales by 2025 and 1 / 4 in 2029.

The EV6 might be constructed on a brand new Electrical-World Modular Platform, or E-GMP, shared with company cousin Hyundai.

Kia has mentioned the EV6 can have a variety of greater than 310 miles. However Kia’s determine is drawn from the European commonplace, the Worldwide Harmonized Mild Automobiles Take a look at Process, which is taken into account extra beneficiant than U.S. vary figures set by the EPA.