Cycle & Carriage (C&C) has recently revamped its Kia showroom along Alexandra Road. With a complete remodelling, the showroom now boasts ample room to showcase up to 9 cars on its showroom floor.

The grand reopening was also an opportunity to unveil their latest collaboration with Kia – the new Kia Niro Plus EV. While the hybrid version of the Niro was announced earlier as a taxi and PHV option, the Niro Plus EV is specifically designed and engineered to cater to the needs of mobility services.

C&C anticipates that the majority of Niro Plus EV sales will be directed towards fleets, including taxi companies, ride-hailing services, and car-sharing firms. However, unlike its hybrid counterpart, the EV version is also available for sale to private individuals. This is an enticing preposition for owners who require additional space but aren’t content with the current EV offerings on the market.

The Kia Niro Plus EV boasts additional tall cargo space and a taller roofline, bestowing rear passengers with added comfort.

Pricing details have yet to be revealed, but the car is available for viewing in their showroom.

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And this isn’t even new-ish tech either. BMW first announced the hands-free software, dubbed Digital Key Plus, to the BMW iX back in February 2021. Now, the company has expanded the app, and will now be available for users with Android smartphones.

With a compatible smartphone, customers can now lock and unlock their BMW or start the engine without even the need to take their phone out of their pocket.

Digital Key Plus also works as a proximity sensor, where the car will react automatically when an owner is either approaching or walking away from their vehicle. This is similar to BMW’s existing walk-away feature with key fobs. 

BMW’s Digital Key Plus is currently compatible with the following smartphones:

• Samsung Galaxy S23+ / Ultra
• Google Pixel 7 Pro

Plus a select few older models with suitable hardware. More smartphones will be rolled out in future, and Digital Key Plus works on vehicles produced from November 2022. Some remote software upgrades will help expand this feature to vehicles built before November 2022.

Ultra-wideband technology is also built into technology, minimising the possibility of relay attacks which can jeopardise the vehicle’s locking systems.

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This is the third time that Kia Singapore has partnered with Singapore-based taxi operator Premier, with their previous two collaborations being the Magentis in 2006 and Optima K5 in 2013.

Approximately 700 units of the unique Niro Plus Hybrid variant will be introduced to our roads in 2023. These vehicles differ slightly from their regular Niro counterparts and will be used exclusively for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services.

The Niro Plus Hybrid is also Premier’s first partnership with cleaner hybrid engines, as opposed to diesel engines in past models. The Niro Plus Hybrid is also touted as Kia’s first Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV), which are vehicles specially curated by the Hyundai Motor Group and are optimised for fleet or small business applications.

“The Niro Plus Hybrid is Kia’s first ‘purpose-built vehicle’, made for fleet operators to fulfil modern-day business demands, which often can be a mixed bag of delivery and logistics services and people mover purposes, including ride-hailing,” shares Dawn Pan, director of multi-franchise operations at Cycle & Carriage Singapore. 

Interestingly, this particular Niro Hybrid is based off the outgoing generation, and not the current generation which set a new record for Singapore’s longest test drive relay.

With some design tweaks, the Niro Hybrid Plus is now 80mm taller and 10mm wider than its regular counterpart, with door handles built into the B pillars. Doors on the Niro Plus Hybrid are also wide-opening, making it easier for passenger ingress and egress. 

As most taxi passengers spend their time in the rear cabin, aircon vents are available along with USB ports, enabling passengers to top off their smartphones. The vehicle’s boot arguably sees the most change, with a taller roofline that is spacious enough to store three large pieces of luggage, along with a folded wheelchair. Exactly what a taxi needs.

With a 1.6-litre four-cylinder direct injection hybrid engine, taxi drivers can be assured that they can run longer, as the Niro Plus Hybrid has a quoted efficiency of 5.3L/100km. Additional safety features like Smart Cruise Control, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Lane Keep Assist System serve to keep taxi drivers safe on the roads.

“As vehicles that undergo long mileage and heavy usage, taxis have to meet greater demands than ordinary cars. They must be safe and comfortable, should have extensive space to transport luggage and bulky items, and need to be both reliable and fuel-efficient to keep operating costs at a minimum.” Dawn Pan adds.

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