New All-Electric Kia EV6 Lineup Offers 577-HP, 316 Mile Range
Kia sure knows how to get our attention. It’s unveiled its firstever vehicle built on a new dedicated EV platform - and the lineup impressively includes a high-performance version. The EV6, Kia’s new high-tech 800V charging crossover, kicks off the brand’s mid- to long-term EV strategy that will include 11 new BEVs by 2026.
The EV6 will come in three trims: the EV6, the GT-Line and range-topping GT, the one that excites us the most thanks to its 577-horsepower. It also offers the most range at 316 miles on a charge.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the EV6 lineups key highlights:
Up to 577 horsepower on the highperformance GT model.
Up to 316 miles of range depending on battery, a standard 58.0- kWh battery or a long range 77.4-kWh battery.
800V Ultra-Fast Charging charges from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes without the need for additional adaptors. It also supports 400V charging.
It’s Kia’s first EV available as either RWD or AWD.
The GT boasts a 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 128 mph.
Design
The new EV6 definitely has an EV look about it. It’s sleek, modern and aerodynamic with minimal lines. At the front, Kia’s ‘tiger face’ has been re-interpreted for the digital era. Forming part of this ‘Digital Tiger Face’, daytime running lights display a sleek, modern appearance and include a ‘sequential’ dynamic light pattern. Below this, a low air intake visually widens the front of the car, accentuating its high-tech image.
A character line runs along the bottom of the doors, curving upwards towards the rear wheel arches to visually elongate the profile of the car. Designed in part to realize ultimate aerodynamic performance, the rear displays a sloping C-pillar with an integrated black glossy insert which appears to extend the window glass. A wing-type roof spoiler channels air downwards towards a raised lower spoiler, which sits atop the car’s unique rear light cluster.
Inside the cabin you’ll find sustainable materials like recycled plastics, high quality vegan leather or suede.
Two Battery Options
There are two battery options including long-range (77.4 kWh) and standard-range (58.0 kWh) high-voltage battery packs. EV6 GT-line is available with both long-range and standard-range battery packs, while EV6 GT features the long-range battery pack only.
This is Kia’s first electric vehicle to be available with either twowheel (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) options – the latter offering enhanced dynamic capability in even the most challenging conditions.
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The 2WD 77.4 kWh EV6 can travel over 510 kilometers (316 miles) on a single charge on the WLTP combined cycle. With a maximum 605 Nm torque available on the AWD version, the EV6 can accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds. The 77.4 kWh battery pack is paired with a 168 kW (229ps) electric motor powering the rear wheels, and for AWD models a 239 kW (325 ps) electric motor powers the front and rear wheels.
The 58.0 kWh EV6 can accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, with a maximum 605 Nm torque available on the
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AWD version. The 58.0 kWh battery pack is paired with a 125 kW electric motor powering the rear wheels, and for AWD models a 173 kW electric motor powers the front and rear wheels.
Equipped with 430kW dual motors, the EV6 GT takes electric performance to another level. With a maximum 740Nm torque, the AWD GT version accelerates from 0-to100 km/h in an eye-watering 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 260 km/h (preliminary development targets). With the addition of electronic-Limited Slip Differential software to the EV6 GT version only, drivers will enjoy confident control and dynamic ride and handling in all conditions.
“The GT version of EV6 demonstrates our technological leadership through its combination of outstanding high-speed charging and acceleration performance like a super sports car. With our dedicated EV platform, there is no need for compromise between inspiring spaciousness and performance,” said Albert Biermann, President and Head of R&D Division for Hyundai Motor Group.
800V Ultra-Fast Charging
The EV6 offers 800V and 400V charging capabilities, without the need for additional components or adapters. The car is capable of a highspeed charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes on all variations or a top-up charge of 100km of driving range in less than four and a half minutes when pairing 2WD with the 77.4-kWh battery option.
The car’s charging system is more flexible than previous generation BEVs thanks to an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU). The ICCU enables a new vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, which is capable of discharging energy from the vehicle battery. The V2L function can supply up to 3.6kW of power and is capable, as an example, of operating a 55-inch television and air conditioner simultaneously for more than 24 hours. The system is also able to charge another EV, if needed.
With more than 35% charge left in the battery, the EV6 can tow items weighing up to 3,527 pounds.
Energy recuperation
The EV6 is fitted with energy-recuperation technologies to maximize driving range. This includes Kia’s latest-generation energy-efficient heat pump, which scavenges waste heat from the car’s coolant system. This ensures that at minus seven degrees Celsius the car can achieve 80% of the range that would be possible at 25 degrees Celsius.
The latest generation of Kia’s smart regenerative braking system is operated by paddle shifters behind the steering wheel so drivers can quickly and easily slow the car and recuperate kinetic energy to maximize driving range and efficiency. Drivers can choose from six regenerative braking levels (none, 1 to 3, ‘i-PEDAL’, or auto mode), depending on the desired level of energy recuperation. The system’s ‘i-PEDAL’ driving mode also allows the car to harvest the maximum amount of energy from its brakes, and enables the driver to bring the car to a gentle halt without needing to push the brake pedal.
Availability Technology
Notable cabin tech ncludes dual 12-inch curved displays with film panels that utilize new structure and advanced technology for reducing impact of light. It hosts the latest version of Kia’s multimedia system, that’s now called “Kia Connect” instead of UVO. It offers over-the-air updates. It alos offers a host of EV-specific services like finding the locations and pricing of EV charging points, viewing the vehicle’s charging status, planning smart charging schedules and checking the range radius.
The Kia will offer a 14-speaker Meridian® surround audio system as well. It’s been engineered by the experts at Meridian and features several of the British audio pioneer’s proprietary digital signal processing (DSP) technologies. It also has Active Sound Design (ASD), a newly-developed feature by Kia which provides drivers with audible feedback to the speed that the car is travelling and controlled via a user interface.
Safety and Convenience
The EV6 offers an enhanced suite of driver assistance systems (ADAS), including:
Safe Exit Assist (SEA) that warns when an approaching vehicle from the rear side is detected. SEA also helps keep the rear door closed through operation of the electronic child lock.
Lane Following Assist (LFA) helps center the vehicle in the lane.
Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) helps maintain a set distance and speed from the vehicle ahead when driving on a highway and also helps center the vehicle in the lane, even through a curve. In case of an adjacent vehicle driving in close proximity, HDA 2 assists to adjust the EV6’s path, so to avoid any possible risk of collision. Also, with the driver’s hands on the steering wheel and above a certain speed, a click of the indicator stalk will move the car into the corresponding lane.
Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) helps remotely park or exit a parking spot with the driver operating EV6 from outside the vehicle.
The EV6 will be built in South Korea. It goes on sale in select global markets starting from the second half of 2021, with online reservations beginning from March 30 in some markets. No confirmed info at this point for U.S. timing.