When are you going fully electric?

SDK^ said:
Kia are launching a new EV tomorrow - the EV6. Probably based on the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
My partner is interested in how this will look, her Sportage is up for replacement this year and is looking to switch to electric.

Preview page here
https://www.kia.com/uk/new-cars/watch-this-space/?cmpid=ppc|Kia_GBR_BRD_DFD_EXT_STD_MOD-EV6_KML_Google|google|e|kia+ev6&gclid=CjwKCAiAhbeCBhBcEiwAkv2cYzWYBs4rdnRAVinSaGTiNtwuPnk7vO0pekiTSrb3ZJMktwB3AsLWXhoCWAcQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Click to expand...

It looks absolutely crap - what is it with the EV styling trend? I've no doubt it's a great car, Kia have been making some great stuff lately, but why does it have to look so awful?

Also to be fair to Kia, I will again point out that everything pure EV from BMW so far looks even worse :D

Is there some sort of law that every time you put an EV powertrain into a car you have to style it like a crap crossover?
 
[TW]Fox said:
It looks absolutely crap - what is it with the EV styling trend?

Is there some sort of law that every time you put an EV powertrain into a car you have to style it like a crap crossover?
Click to expand...
I think it looks great.
Generally, EV's sit higher because of the layer of batteries in the floor.
 
Jonnycoupe said:
Foxy might get drawn to this?

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-2021-bmw-i4-production-model-sale-autumn

Weird if i4 and 4 doors though, as i4 suggests 4 series, guess just the GC version.
Click to expand...
It's interesting how BMW and Mercedes have been caught out a bit with the quick take up of EV's
They are bodging current platforms into an EV form, with specific ground up designed EV's coming from late 2022.

Examples -
BMW iX3 and this i4,
Mercedes EQA and EQC

Will this be the last gen of ICE BMW M4 and M3?
Same for the current (or very soon to be refreshed) Audi RS and Merc AMG models
 
Indeed, BMW CLAR looks like they have change the main floor and used slimmer cells to get something under the saloons, will be interesting what the foot room is like in the back. Its always weird how VW are changing direction of MEB and PPE so quick to this new SSP starting 2024 with what looks like Northvolt.

They have pretty much described MEB as proof of concept yet its onslaught is only just starting. :confused:
 
SDK^ said:
I think it looks great.
Generally, EV's sit higher because of the layer of batteries in the floor.
Click to expand...

You would think it looks great, look at that Polestar thing you've got :D They all look like top heavy crossovers - doesn't mode well for those who fuss about handling and centre of gravity does it.

I just wish the Audi ETron wasnt a million quid. It's perfect.

If it really is a packaging thing then thats another +1 to the internal combustion engine, what a brilliant invention that was turning out to be - convenient, cheap, flexible :D
 
Last edited:
SDK^ said:
They are bodging current platforms into an EV form, with specific ground up designed EV's coming from late 2022.
Click to expand...

the battery under the floor does seem to compromise rear space in some ground up ev's, forget if it was mach-e review I saw the other day, but issue also illustrated in M3 ;
as battery density improves, probably more scope to preserve ICE ergonomics and, have low saloons, without compromising CofG.

We've equally seen that aerodynamics are not (currently) improved much in custom ev platforms versus ice's, like the cla designs.
 
[TW]Fox said:
You would think it looks great, look at that Polestar thing you've got :D They all look like top heavy crossovers - doesn't mode well for those who fuss about handling and centre of gravity does it.
Click to expand...

Polestar 2 has 51/49 weight distribution and like most EV's, the batteries in the bottom of the car keep the centre of gravity very stable (unlike ICE SUVs)
 
[TW]Fox said:
You would think it looks great, look at that Polestar thing you've got :D They all look like top heavy crossovers - doesn't mode well for those who fuss about handling and centre of gravity does it.
Click to expand...
The centre of gravity in any EV is very low as the majority of the weight of the car is in the centre section of the floor. There is no heavy ICE engine and gearbox hanging over the front wheels.
 
[TW]Fox said:
It's very tall though - how does it compare to something like a 3 Series to drive?
Click to expand...
The feedback I've seen is that it performs very well. Whilst it's tall, the centre of gravity is low. I'll let you know in a few weeks. I've had 1-series, 3-series and 5-series so should be able to compare.
 
https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews...lus-78kwh-dual-motor-5dr-4wd-auto/first-drive

But the standard suspension, because it’s intrinsically softer in its damping, avoids most of that. And over bigger, uglier lumps and dips, it allows the springs to breathe more. It’s simply more comfortable on normal roads at normal speeds.

Does it run out of control when you’re pressing on and the surface gets really busy? No. I took it on a severely buckled backroad I know well, one that upsets many, many cars. There wasn’t a moment in the Polestar when I felt it could have used more damping.


Anything else?

Dampers have all sorts of subtle effects on many other aspects of a car’s behaviour. One of them is steering. The forces they put through the suspension in tiny transient movements can have a big effect on the steering’s turn-in sharpness and feel.

But guess what, again there isn’t much to worry about here. Softening them off hasn’t muffled the steering feel. Because most of the time even the Performance Pack car doesn’t actually have any anyway.

Also the car resists body roll very sternly. It feels like we can credit its low centre of gravity and stiffish anti-roll bars for this, rather than the dampers. Because again, the one with the cheaper dampers doesn’t roll much. If it did roll, initial steering response would be delayed, but it doesn’t. So it isn’t delayed.
Click to expand...
 
[TW]Fox said:
It's very tall though - how does it compare to something like a 3 Series to drive?
Click to expand...

Forget body height - The battery weight (around 1000kg) is in lowest centre section of the car. It drives and feels like there are magnets under the car sucking it down to the road. You notice this weight when you go over a hilly section of road, as the car 'jumps', but otherwise it's planted.

This is the Polestar/Volvo Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform. You can see how small the electric motors are and the batteries in the middle. There is very little weight ahead of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels.


51045964161_598a24e8e9_z.jpg


 
Last edited:
Basher said:
The feedback I've seen is that it performs very well. Whilst it's tall, the centre of gravity is low. I'll let you know in a few weeks. I've had 1-series, 3-series and 5-series so should be able to compare.
Click to expand...

I'd be really interested in your view given your car history :)
 
BMW's might be 50/50 weight distribution but most of this weight will be at either end of the car. Engine, radiators, batteries, fluids, oil and other parts. The Polestar and other EV's have the majority of weight right down low, positioned in the centre floor section of the car.

This is a cut away of the G20 Alpina B3

51046113927_3242c9ec3b_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom