Kia Debuts 576 Horsepower EV6 GT

Kia has issued a kind of extended teaser for the all-electric EV6, with the latest example giving us a fairly comprehensive look at the more extravagant version. The EV6 GT will be a swift and squat crossover (or perhaps portly hatchback?) using the E-GMP architecture that currently underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and several more dedicated electric vehicles South Korea has yet to put into production.

That makes the EV6 an incredibly important model for Kia and the Hyundai Motor Group as a whole. Fortunately, the manufacturer seems eager to make a good first impression — which is probably why it led with the 576 horsepower, GT trimmed model.

While not every EV6 will be all-wheel drive, GT models will be. They’ll also be coming with the long-range, 77.4-kWh battery option and a second motor to help improve traction and overall output. Kia said cheaper versions will be rear-drive only and come with the standard 58-kWh battery. Range on the more expensive variant is reportedly good, with the European WLTP testing standard returning roughly 316 miles. The United States Environmental Protection Agency will likely release a more conservative (and accurate) figure, though it should still be somewhere around 300 miles.

That’s not half bad and made better by the car’s relatively quick charging time. Assuming you’re capable of getting to a fast-charger, Kia said owners could bring the 800-volt system from 10 percent of its charge all the way back up to 80 percent in under 20 minutes. You might even feel comfortable taking an EV like this on a weekend excursion. But we’re willing to bet EV6’s with the smaller battery option makes them better suited for localized duties and short, predictable commutes.

Performance is shaping up nicely on the GT model. Kia is promising dual-motor versions of the EV6 that should squeak past 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds. But most EVs tend to possess rather limited top speeds and this model is no different. The manufacturer decided to cap it at 128 mph, though GT owners will get software that attempts to mimic a limited-slip rear differential.

Those units will be equipped with two motors for a combined 576 horsepower. But Kia said single-motor versions of the EV6 will have numerous powertrain options ranging between 168 and 255 hp. Dual-motor variants (that aren’t the fully-fledged GT model) will span between 232 and 320 horsepower. But we will need to wait for details on how that works out in terms of acceleration and battery range.

What we won’t need to wait on, however, are some of the unique features Kia has outfitted the EV6 with to make it as appetizing as possible. The vehicle offers two-way charging, allowing for it to deliver 3.6 kW of power to whatever devices you want. While perhaps not as juicy as what’s being offered by some of the all-electric pickups everyone is working on (Ford’s electric F-Series is supposed to discharge at least 7 kW), it’s pretty good for a vehicle that doesn’t come with a way to generate its own electricity. Were the EV6 equipped with a gasoline generator, a few extra kilowatts might have been nice. But Kia’s crossover should be capable of running everything one might take on an overnight camping trip with enough power left over to get you back on your way home. Just be careful to leave yourself with more than 35 percent of your maximum capacity or else the vehicle curiously loses its ability to tow its maximum payload of 3,500 pounds (officially 1,600 kg).

Additional features should be akin to what we’ve already seen offered on the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Expect a suite of driving aids, over-the-air updates, two 12-inch screens, and the company’s new augmented reality display on the higher trims. Hyundai also hasn’t announced a performance-oriented model, meaning the EV6 GT might be the only rowdy EV in their conjoined lineup for a while. Based upon what we’ve seen thus far, the Ioniq 5 seems to be taking a hyper-modern, luxury-focused approach to motoring anyway. The EV6’s interior and exterior are no less interesting but more traditional in their orientation.

The EV6 is supposed to go on sale in North America later this year. Expect Kia to offer a sizable release on the US-spec models, their pricing, and what order we can expect to see them arriving on our market before then.

[Images: Kia]