The LA Auto Show is around the corner, with automakers queuing up to unveil their latest projects bound for American streets. Kia is among them, with the brand confirming today that it will unveil no less than five new models across the EV, HEV, PHEV, and ICE spaces. That’s an all-out assault on the US automotive market, catering to every electrified niche and those who still adore the good old combustion engine. But what could these five new models be?
Kia
Kia is a South Korean automaker headquartered in Seoul. It was originally founded in 1944 as a bicycle manufacturer which later built small motorcycles, and Mazda-licensed trucks and cars. After building an assembly plant in th early 70s, the company also produced the Bisa range of cars until 1981 before coming to a half due to the political situation at the time. Production kicked off again in 1986 in partnership with Ford, and in 1992 the company started sellling cars in North America. Today it is the second-largest automaker in South Korea, right behind Hyundai.
- Founded
- June 9, 1944 (as Kyungsung Precision Industry)
- Founder
- Kim Cheol-ho
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Owned By
- Hyundai Motor Group
- Current CEO
- Ho Sung Song
“With five vehicles to unveil at next week’s Los Angeles Auto Show, we want it to be made very clear that Kia is driving forward on all fronts. We are going to pull the wraps off some of the most important elements of our award-winning portfolio and we believe our customers will be delighted at what’s coming to our showrooms in the very near future.”
– Steven Center, COO & EVP, Kia America
A Few Facelifts, But Some New Models Too
Kia specifically mentions two models in the teaser announcement, although it’s unclear whether they’ll actually be present, as the South Korean brand uses them as an example of models using the “Opposites United” design philosophy. The first is the Kia EV6, which debuted in 2021 and is just about due for a facelift, as indicated by spy shots of prototypes spotted earlier this year. Kia also mentioned the EV3, a 373-mile electric crossover slated to hit American roads for the 2026 model year. The EV3 Concept was shown at last year’s LA Auto Show before a reveal earlier in 2024 but this wouldn’t be a new reveal as hinted at by Kia.
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What Our Spies Tell Us Is Coming
As the teaser release from Kia came from its global division and not just the US arm, it’s fair to believe these won’t just be US market reveals of cars we’ve already seen on a global scale. That rules out the EV3, and the Kia Tasman pickup truck, too. But what else is coming?
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Throughout the year, our spies have been gathering photos and data on a few Kia models facing imminent updates. The Kia Sportage is due for a fresh face, losing some of its distinctive looks as it aligns with Kia’s EV styling. This one model could easily cover the ICE, HEV, and PHEV categories touted by Kia, as the popular crossover is available with all three powertrain options. Our spies have spotted the Sportage facelift as recently as last month, so an imminent unveiling seems likely, and the supplied teaser image (top of article) looks like a dead ringer for the prototypes we’ve already seen (and the Korean-market version that has already been revealed).
The Kia EV9 GT is another likely candidate. Although originally anticipated to be revealed next year, Kia may have sped up the development timeline given the EV9’s success in the US so far. Prototypes have been hitting the Nurburgring all year long, and are expected to deliver over 600 horsepower in production form. The Kia EV5 GT is another possibility, a performance model confirmed last year that we’ve been eagerly awaiting.
Whatever the reveals are at the LA Auto Show, Kia is looking to make a splash. And we don’t have long to wait to find out what’s coming, as the LA Auto Show kicks off on 22 November and runs until 1 December.
