You might previously have read that Kia has developed their first-ever production EV. In hearing that the new EV would be produced in limited numbers and the tiny number slated to be made are already reserved by the South Korean government, many lost hope that it would ever be made available to American drivers. Kia's recent unveiling of the new Ray EV at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Nevada, however, has ignited a glimmer of possibility. Maybe, just maybe, Kia will eventually offer the Ray in the U.S.

Lokey Kia has to say, many drivers would be glad if they did. For, with a charging time of under half-an-hour and a driving range of nearly 90 miles, it competes extremely well with EVs currently on the market, not only in terms of convenience and practicality but edgy looks as well.

The new Ray EV, however, wasn't the only vehicle Kia debuted at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. They also unveiled the new, zero-emissions Kia Naimo Concept, which like the Ray is powered by an advanced li-polymer battery pack. Perhaps more impressive than the Naimo's zero-emissions are its advanced safety made possible by an all-new telematics system called User Centered Driver, or UCD.

Not only does UCD feature a significantly larger and clearer touch screen, it allows drivers to interact with it in a variety of ways (i.e., swiping or flicking). It even includes Color Night Vision (CNV), which enhances driver nighttime vision and also serves to assess driver exhaustion levels in an effort to prevent accidents caused by drowsy driving.

Speaking on Kia Ray EV and Kia Naimo concept before the show, Michael Sprague, VP, Marketing & Communication, Kia says, "With the Kia Ray, which is Korea's first production electric vehicle, and the Naimo concept's forward-thinking UCD telematics, Kia is demonstrating leadership in the area of technology development as our global R&D team pursues the goal of taking the vehicle-driver relationship to new levels with facial recognition technology and a number of interactive features.¹

Interested in more Kia news?  Check back soon. Lokey Kia is your local source for Kia developments worldwide. And remember, if you're interested in exploring the new 2012 Kia lineup in the meantime, simply visit us at 27960 U.S. Hwy 19N, Clearwater, FL 33761. Or, if it's more convenient, you can shop our entire new Kia inventory online.

Source: ¹http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kia-motors-first-ever-production-electric-vehicle-to-make-north-american-debut-at-2012-consumer-electronics-show-2012-01-09