

2024.08.01 Kia
Kia's EV3 has garnered significant attention worldwide. This vehicle is expected to lead the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles, thanks to its top-notch features. However, the EV3 is not just about superior performance. Its interior design, inspired by living spaces, and its advanced use of recycled materials in CMF design are also key attractions. The main characteristics of the EV3's interior and CMF design focus on providing optimal convenience for various user purposes through simple visual elements. To learn more about the design allure of the EV3, we spoke with the designers who participated in its development.
The interior design of the EV3 is a harmonious blend of minimalist visual elements and clever ideas that enhance livability and convenience. A standout feature is the panoramic wide display, which seamlessly integrates a 12.3-inch cluster, a 5-inch air conditioning display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system to effectively convey driving information.
The sliding console table, which can be used as a table when the vehicle is stationary, further emphasizes the concept of living space, allowing passengers to stay comfortably. What process led to these design attempts that expand the convenient user experience of electric vehicles? We asked the Kia Next Design Interior Team members involved in the EV3's interior design, including Senior Research Engineer Choi Eun-seong, Research Engineer Seo Dong-hoon, and Senior Research Engineers Namgoong Eun and Noh Tae-hyung from the Kia Next Design Interior Improvement Team.
Q: The interior of the EV3 feels as comfortable as being at home. What was the concept behind its interior design development?
Choi Eun-seong |The concept behind the interior design of the EV3 is 'extension of living space.' The goal was to create a comfortable and flexible space that supports the user's lifestyle, beyond just being a means of transportation. We drew a lot of inspiration from furniture and electronic products, which are elements of home interiors, incorporating simple yet practical designs, aesthetic compositions, and various material combinations to create an atmosphere that is both familiar and unique.
Q. The interior design of the EV3 concept car has been almost fully implemented in the production model. What features of the concept car did you strive to materialize?
Choi Eun-seong | We worked hard to bring the simple and modern interior atmosphere of the concept car into the production model. To achieve this, we placed a long chrome garnish on the front of the crash pad to make the space appear wider and emphasized a unique spatial sense by combining materials like fabric and recycled plastics. Additionally, we incorporated the sliding console table from the concept car into the production model to enhance usability.
Q. What aspects of Opposites United are reflected in the EV3's interior design?
Choi Eun-seong | Kia's design philosophy, Opposites United, combines contrasting design elements to create new designs. One example is the vertical door garnish. Starting from the crash pad and extending to the door trim, this element simplifies the design while conveying a solid and straightforward image. The vertical door garnish is designed with a cool metallic finish, contrasting the comfort of home interiors, and integrates functional elements like seat heating and ventilation buttons, completing it as an object reminiscent of an appliance.
Q. What are the distinctive elements of the EV3's interior design?
Seo Dong-hoon | The sliding console table, which enhances user convenience and living space, is a unique interior design element of the EV3. Inspired by the use of tables in offices and homes, this feature adds a playful touch to the car's interior. Typically, the center console houses the gear lever, driving-related buttons, and cup holders. In the EV3, these functions are boldly streamlined, and the table functionality is implemented. The sliding console table offers front and rear sliding functions for high usability and includes ample storage space underneath, addressing potential concerns about storage capacity.
Q. The application of lighting throughout the interior creates an emotional atmosphere. How do you foresee the development of lighting design in the future?
Seo Dong-hoon | Lighting significantly impacts the interior atmosphere. In the EV3, we designed sequence lights on the crash pad garnish and mood lamps at the lower interior areas to create a comfortable home-like atmosphere. The sequence lights move across the crash pad garnish, conveying a high-tech and sophisticated image. In contrast, the mood lamps provide a gentle glow from the lower parts of the console, door trim, and crash pad, enhancing the emotional ambiance and helping to identify items in the lower storage areas. In the future, lighting is expected to evolve beyond mere illumination to include diverse forms and functions..
Q. The seats with new patterns are a standout feature of the EV3. What are the key characteristics of the seat design?
Namgung Eun | The seats feature a two-tone color scheme and accent colors for a balanced and visually appealing look that complements the comfortable interior. Additionally, the seats include mesh-type headrests for better ventilation and USB charging ports for enhanced user convenience. The seatback board (the rear finishing of the front seats) uses fabric with minimal stitching, delivering an iconic and premium image unique to the EV3.
Q. What design elements can be experienced from the rear seats of the EV3?
Noh Tae-hyung | The top of the seatback board is shaped to serve as a hanger or handle, while the lower part is slimly designed to provide ample legroom for rear passengers. The hard-type map pocket is seamlessly integrated for both aesthetics and convenience. These features offer a unique rear-seat experience that distinguishes the EV3 from other vehicles.
The CMF design of the EV3 was meticulously crafted to convey the sense of living space both inside and out. Additionally, the extensive use of recycled plastics and fabrics in the exterior garnishes and interior materials reinforces the vehicle's direction toward sustainability. To learn more about this thoughtful CMF design, we spoke with the senior research engineer Jin Sun-wook from the Kia Next CMF Team.
Q. What was the concept behind the development of the CMF design for the EV3?
Jin Sun-wook | The concept behind this CMF design was 'additional living space.' The goal was to create a space that is not just a means of transport but offers various functionalities tailored to user needs, providing comfort and a cozy atmosphere. Additionally, we incorporated 'Joy for Reason'—one of the five attributes of Opposites United—into the CMF design to add a practical yet unique character.
Q. The new colors are quite diverse. What was the intent behind their development?
Jin Sun-wook | To allow customers to choose their unique color combinations, we offered a diverse color palette for the EV3. The exterior comes in seven colors, including three new ones | Aventurine Green, Shale Gray, and Frost Blue. These new colors were developed in solid pastel tones to complement the EV3's dynamic silhouette.
The interior colors aim for a calm and cozy atmosphere with medium gray, light gray, navy, and charcoal white. Additionally, light blue and orange were used as accent colors in less visually prominent areas, like the storage space under the sliding console table, to offer a unique color experience. These accent colors throughout the interior will provide unexpected delight to the passengers.
Q. What message did you want to convey through the blend of metallic and fabric elements in the interior?
Jin Seon-wook | Many people perceive fabric as a cheap automotive interior material. However, contrary to this belief, fabric is a challenging material to ensure durability and is not inexpensive. Because of these challenges, fabric has not been commonly used in car interiors. But as fabric has become trendy in furniture and interior design, it has gained recognition as a comfortable and luxurious material. For the EV3, we developed a new type of fabric to create a luxurious atmosphere. We applied recycled fabric to areas frequently touched by users to convey the warmth of fabric. Additionally, we used metallic textures with a soft visual appearance to create a comfortable atmosphere, balancing out the design.
Q. How did you manage to integrate recycled materials throughout the vehicle to enhance sustainability?
Jin Seon-wook | For the exterior, we applied recycled plastics to the bumper, fender, and lower door areas, using plastics recycled from scrapped cars to maximize resource recycling. In the future, we plan to develop and apply recycled plastics with visible particles to mass-produced vehicles. Inside, we used recycled fabric for the crash pad and door trims to create a cozy and upscale atmosphere. We also used PET (polyethylene terephthalate), known for being easily recyclable, for the headlining, door armrests, floor mats, and luggage boards.
And for the seats, we combined fabric made from recycled PET with bio polyurethane (PU) derived from plants for artificial leather. These recycled materials went through a stringent and systematic development process to ensure they look and feel luxurious. The fabric and artificial leather feature recycled PET and plant-based bio components, providing an upscale look and feel. Through the EV3, Kia showcases its commitment to both environmental sustainability and advanced design technology.
Q. How do you hope customers will appreciate the colors, materials, and finishes of the EV3?
Jin Seon-wook | The EV3 offers a blend of practicality and luxury, providing great value. I hope customers find the perfect combination of materials and colors from the diverse options available for the EV3.
As we’ve seen, the EV3 demonstrates advancements in the small electric SUV segment with its emotional interior and CMF design that emphasize living space. The EV3 is already recognized for its innovation, driving the popularization of electric vehicles with advanced electrification technology. With its design reflecting these values, the EV3 is expected to provide high satisfaction to many customers in the future.
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