It was a close call.
Even though it isn’t in the GT trim, we know that the new Kia EV6 can be fast. The South Korean hatchback crossover hybrid mashup, like most modern electric vehicles, offers fast acceleration and plenty power at all speeds. Is that enough to compete with the best sports cars of recent times?
A new Carwow video has been published today. It shows the EV6 competing against a Ferrari F355 in an open drag race. Although it may appear like an unmatched competition, the fact is that the cars are nearly perfectly matched. Although you might believe that the winner is obvious, it’s not.
Let’s look at the numbers. The EV6 uses two electric motors for each axle. They have a peak output of 325 horsepower (239 kilowatts) combined and 446 pound-feet (605 Newton meters) of torque. The electric car weighs in at 4,608 lbs (2,090 kg). This hatchback is powerful, but it also has good traction.
The Ferrari uses a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine to counter it. It produces 380 horsepower (279 kW), and 265 lbft (362 Nm) of torque. The Ferrari’s supercar has a limited amount of power, which is a disadvantage. It also has a manual transmission which can be considered a disadvantage. It is also significantly lighter at 2,976 pounds (1,350 kilogram). Is it possible to beat the supercars of the 1990s with an electric vehicle? Let’s see.
The Kia is the clear winner in the first tun. This is probably due to the Ferrari’s slow gear changes and poor start. The driver may not have moved the shifter as fast as he would like, but that is likely because he wants to be kind to the Prancing Horse.
The Ferrari did a better launch and a slower shift from the first to the second. This run was won by the F355. A third run was necessary to determine which car is faster. This is an incredible race and you can see it in the video below.