Enjoy the view with the Kia EV5 Concept’s swivel seats

Barely a week after revealing the seven-seat, fully electric and very striking Kia EV9, the South Korean manufacturer has unveiled this swivel-seat, fully electric and very striking EV5.

This one’s only a concept, obviously, but Kia says it'll preview a production model, set to make its debut in China later this year. Where it’ll go after that remains to be seen, but ‘future plans for other global markets’ will be decided ‘in due course’ There you go then.

The highlight is those swivel seats, which Kia claims are designed to blur ‘the boundaries between outdoor and indoor spaces’. Or something. We think that means they’d be rather nice to pull up somewhere with a view and enjoy a bite to eat.

Performance details have yet to be disclosed, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll sit on the firm’s E-GMP platform.

Kia has at least said that the EV5 Concept rides on 21-inch wheels, and there’s a panoramic display for much digital content, a panoramic sunroof that also acts as a solar panel, and a (presumably panoramic) flat floor to create much legroom.

And you needn’t worry about animal leather: the interior has been adorned in plant-based materials like seaweed extract, and there’s upcycled PET bottles covering the seats, doors, dashboard and ceiling.

“The Kia Concept EV5 takes influence from the contrast and complementarity of natural landscapes and man-made architecture,” says Karim Habib, Executive Vice President, and Head of Kia’s Global Design Center. “It is designed to inspire our customers on every journey, while providing sustainable and environmentally responsible solutions.

“Created for those who seek inventive new ideas, the SUV brings together emotional form language with innovative, user-focused interior architecture.”

And more importantly, swivel seats.