Kia here remains tight-lipped about second-generation electric and hybrid compact.

CONJECTURE Kia here is close to releasing a smaller, potentially cheaper alternate to the EV6 electric car is not being responded to by the distributor.

The model under the spotlight is the full battery version of the latest Niro.

Kia NZ continues to says it has nothing fresh to say about the new car, though its website cites it as “coming soon” and there have been reports of examples having already landed.

 A clever rebody of the previous generation model that has been around for six years,  the line seems set to continue to deploy an architecture that can handle both battery-powered and internal combustion engine powertrains also shared with the Hyundai Kona.

Though it has been improved for a second time around the block, the technology is a generation behind the 800-volt E-GMP architecture that underpins the EV6 and its Hyundai fraternal twin, the Ioniq 5.

Whether that makes Niro set to provision to a budget-minded sector that cannot reach to EV6 remains to be seen.

In its previous optimal form, the battery-wedded Niro was an $85,000 choice – so, dearer than some EV6s have been and too expensive for the Clean Car rebate.

Questions about Niro arose during follow-up on the $5000 price increase that impacted on the entire EV6 range just days ago, a hike that means only the cheapest version of Kia’s newest electric still attracts a Clean Car rebate.

When EV6 released in March, two variants were priced below the $80,000 cut-off for that Government pay-out. Now just the cheapest is, and the margin has reduced.

There has been conjecture on a popular electric vehicle owner forum that EV6 prices have been altered to make way for the fully electric Niro. At same token, though, it has been widely reported that huge increases in core materials for batteries have triggered increases in electric vehicle prices around the world.

While Kia New Zealand is remaining mum about Niro, media in Australia – which traditionally shares common stock with this market – are saying they expect to see it available on their turf in July.

 The initial push across the Tasman is for the fully electric and mild hybrid models; the plug-in hybrid that sits between those derivatives and, in the first generation, lent up to 55kms’ electric range is not going to our neighbour.

 The first gen PHEV started at $55,990 in NZ so was eligible for the type rebate that reduced the sticker to $50,240 plus on-road costs.

Powering the hybrid variant, whose predecessor remains listed as an available model on the Kia NZ website, is a revised 77kW/144Nm 1.6-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine, paired to a 32kW electric motor and six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for 104kW/265Nm combined, and claimed fuel economy of 4.0 litres per 100 kilometres.

The all-out electric model uses a front-mounted 150kW/255Nm motor and a 64.8kWh battery pack for 460km of claimed driving range.

The Australian market provision covers a base S model for fleet and a GT-Line trimmed for private buyers.

The latter delivers more comforts than the car previously had – including ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, head-up display, powered tailgate and wireless charger – and will also have two new-to-Nio provisions.

One is a V2L (Vehicle 2 Load) external appliance powering system and the other is Kia's new suite of 'telematic' connected technologies, known as Kia Connect.

 This allows owners to unlock/lock their vehicle, start it up, pre-heat the cabin, track its location, activate a valet parking mode, and a range of other functions from a phone app.