The adventurous new one Kia EV5 WKNDR The concept quietly made its world debut at the Guangzhou Motor Show in China last week, revealing the off-road potential of the Korean car brand’s mid-size electric SUV.
It is the fourth WKNDR concept unveiled by the Korean automaker, following the similarly robust show cars based on the Tasman ute, the EV9 large electric SUV and the PV5 electric van.
This time around, Kia’s Chinese design team has included a number of rugged off-road goodies that you probably won’t see on a Tesla Model Y – the EV5’s best-selling rival – any time soon.
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These include chunky new front and rear bumpers, functional roof rails/luggage racks that extend to tool holders above the rear side windows, and pumped-out wheel arches wrapped around aggressive 20-inch wheels and mud tires.
There are also retractable yellow recovery points front and rear and, perhaps most importantly, what looks like a decent suspension mount.
The outdoor theme continues inside, where the new octagonal steering wheel as well as the center console, door panels and sturdy new seats add bold yellow accents. The cabin is also full of environmentally friendly BIO-PU materials.
The rear seats fold down and can also be easily removed to create a completely flat rear cargo area, complete with yellow straps and sliding brackets for storing all types of glamping gear.
Other camping amenities include a tailgate that doubles as a camping table, as well as ambient camping lighting, a built-in radio and binoculars.
In keeping with the thoughtful weekend getaway theme, there will also be a one-touch mode that automatically plans routes, suggests charging stops and identifies potential sights for nature lovers.
No details have been announced about the EV5 WKNDR, but it is likely to be based on the flagship all-wheel drive variant GT-Line.
Priced at $71,770 before on-road costs in Australia, it comes with two electric motors with a total output of 230kW and 480Nm of torque, powered by an 88kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
The four-variant Kia EV5 MY26 range is priced from $56,770 plus on-roads for the entry-level 2WD standard range, powered by a single 160kW/310Nm motor fed by a 64kWh LFP battery.
Unlike Kia’s previous WKNDR concepts, this one is set to go into production, according to an X post by Chinese industry analyst Tycho de Feijter, although it’s unclear when.
MORE: Explore the Kia EV5 showroom
