Can Kia’s electric vehicle keep up?
Kia may not be the first brand to come to mind when thinking about a performance electric car, but its new model, the EV6, is set to make a difference. Today, Kia provided a detailed overview of the new model’s specs. It revealed a GT trim with a powerful performance rating. The EV6 GT has 577 horsepower (430kilowatts). Kia tested the crossover against a few high-end performance cars.
The EV6 saw Kia face stiff competition from a Lamborghini Urus and a Mercedes AMG GT, a Porsche 911 Targa, a Ferrari California T and a McLaren 570s. Despite being a serious performance machine, the Urus has 641 horsepower (430 kilowatts). The Lamborghini still has the advantage in drag racing, despite the extra power. The Kia is the first to leave the track, keeping the competition away for the majority of the race.
The EV6 GT is second, but not by much. It hangs off McLaren’s rear bumper, but it does not take first. The Kia crossover is powered by a dual-motor setup, which also produces 546 poundfeet (740 poundfeet), of torque. This is a result of an all-wheel drive system that propels it to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. The crossover’s top speed is 162 miles per hour (260 km/h), which is quite fast. These are both “development targets”, but we have no doubt that Kia will reach them.
To improve handling, the EV6 GT has an electronic limited slip differential. The EV6 GT comes with a 77.4 kilowatt hour battery. A smaller, 58-kWh battery will be available along with a rear wheel-drive system. In South Korea, the 2022 Kia EV6 GT will go on sale in the second half this year.