The Kia Niro has only just gone on sale in Australia, but the launch of the second-generation model isn’t far away.
Without the black shroud used on earlier prototypes, we can see the new Niro has a front end heavily influenced by 2019 HabaNiro concept, especially with the design for the main headlight pod and the ‘shark nose’.
The production car won’t be a facsimile of the concept, though. The pop-up butterfly doors have been replaced with more traditional units, and the surfacing looks to be less crisp.
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HabaNiro
At the rear, the tail lights bear a distinct influence from the HabaNiro, but we expect a toned down treatment for the tailgate and bumpers.
Given the production car’s focus on efficiency and low fuel consumption, it’s not a surprise to see the prototype wearing smaller wheels with higher-profile rubber.
As we’ve seen in photos from July this year, the concept’s hyper-minimalist cabin has been replaced by something far more normal.
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HabaNiro
The yoke steering wheel has junked in favour of a regular round steering wheel with two big spokes, and there’s a large rectangular slab at the top of dashboard housing a digital instrumentation display and a touchscreen infotainment system.
Unlike the Kia EV6, which is based on the E-GMP dedicated EV platform, the new Niro uses an architecture that supports internal combustion engines.
Buyers of the current Niro can choose between hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric drivetrains.
MORE: Everything Kia Niro
