Earlier this month Kia showcased its first dedicated electric car; the all-new EV6. It was a high-profile unveiling, but showed undoubted room for improvement in the quoted performance figures.
Naturally, this was all part of Kia’s plan. Overnight the Korean firm unveiled the EV6’s performance flagship, called the EV6 GT. It inherits a larger battery pack, and a standard dual-motor set-up. Power and torque are increased to 430kW and 740Nm, respectively. And it’ll mow down 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, according to Kia.
In theory, it should also be better in the bends, too. Kia has given the GT an electronic limited-slip differential on the rear axle, while also adding sports suspension that sits 5mm lower than other models.
The GT sits above the EV6’s GT-Line, and standard variants. The range starts with a single-motor 58kWh battery 125kW/350Nm rear-driven model, with 77.4kWh 168kW/350Nm rear-wheel drive, 58kWh 173kW/605Nm all-wheel drive, and 77.44kWh 239kW/605Nm all-wheel drive models also available.
All models are 800V fast-charging capable, which Kia says means they can be charged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent capacity in a mere 18 minutes when hooked to the right charger. The single-motor 77.4kWh model offers the best range, rated at 510km.
Kia New Zealand has confirmed the electric model for the local market, with arrival scheduled for some time later in 2021. Local spec and line-up is still to be confirmed, although in its release it did say we would get both battery options and both drivetrain options. Although the GT wasn’t specifically named in the release, we expect that it will be on the list, too.
While Kia describes the model as an ‘EV supercar’, the EV6 is more of a large SUV. Its 4695mm long, 1890mm wide footprint means it’s larger than a lot of other SUVs, while also packing the segment’s signature raised ride height. The boot houses 520 litres of storage with the seats up, and 1300 litres with them down. It’s also rated to tow a credible 1600kg.
Specs for the local market are to be confirmed, but as per a lot of other electric options expect them to be plentiful. Kia boasts that the model can be had with a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, a comprehensive suite of safety tech, bucket seats, and more.
“[The EV6 is] a very exciting car and it’s size is ideally suited to the New Zealand market – the wheelbase is similar to that of our Sorento large SUV, so it will be a spacious and comfortable vehicle,” says Todd McDonald, Managing Director of Kia New Zealand.
