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At the end of the year, the hottest Kia of all time will hit German roads. The EV6 GT is the sporty variant of the all-electric sedan. The five-door catapults itself to 3,5 km/h in 100 seconds.
Hand on heart: who would have thought a few years ago that a Kia from Korea can be mentioned in the same breath as two important German competitors. The new Kia EV6 GT is anything but an outsider on the German autobahn, but it has yet to make it onto the shopping list of German power fans. Precious Bavarian products are certainly at the top here, for example the BMW i4 M50 or the Audi e-tron S Sportback.
Kia is ready for the competition
But that could change if the Kia EV6 GT competes later this year. All three of course have all-wheel drive, thanks to thick batteries a range of around 500 kilometers, rely on a pulling power as was once said to be high-capacity diesel engines. The only difference is in the price. Such an Audi costs a good 30.000 euros more, with the BMW of the M family the difference to the Kia, which costs around 66.000 euros, is only 5.000 euros.
Enough with the comparison, which should be considered shocking for quite a few fans of such cars anyway. Let's turn to the challenger, although for the time being, steering wheel space is reserved for people with a Kia corporate ID. But even in the right front seat, laypersons are reminded of the Korean martial art Taekwondo, which is designed for speed and dynamics. "Beakjul-bool-gul" is one of the principles of this sport and stands for invincibility.
Admittedly, when the EV6 GT gets going, with the power of 430 kW/585 hp pounding the asphalt over all four wheels, it seems invincible. However, a Lamborghini Hurracan Evo or a Porsche 911 Turbo are not currently on the road and the eight-lane autobahn from Frankfurt to Darmstadt would be the wrong place for such competitions anyway.
Athlete instead of environmental activist
For future owners, it should also be enough that the high-powered motor can do a lot, if it has to. 3,5 km/h in 100 seconds, a top speed of 260 km/h: that sounds impressive on paper and in the car quartet, but it certainly has little to do with the basic idea of the electric car. Because with such escapades, the EV6 GT would be longer at the charging station than hanging out the bad guy in the left lane. Unless the navigation system discovers one of the super-fast charging stations. The 77,4 kWh battery can then be recharged from 18 to 10 percent of its capacity in just 80 minutes.
But the technical subtleties can also be experienced without the right pedal being pressed down. The four-wheel drive, combined with an electronic control of dampers, steering and a differential lock, prevent the 2,3-ton truck from tilting, even in fast corners. The same applies to the nodding dive when you step on the brakes. There is a lot of fine work in it, which should also prove itself in everyday life. The special "GT" driving mode is usually not used when using the Kia as a family shuttle to the daycare center or as an express van for weekend shopping (up to 1.260 liters of luggage space).
Elegant and sporty
Compared to the "normal" EV6 models, the designers carefully decorated their best piece in some places. An exclusive front bumper emphasizes the width of the GT. In addition, V-shaped LED daytime running lights in narrow housings, a hood with two raised downward edges and an elegant roof spoiler. The 21-inch wheels also reveal neon-colored brake calipers. And the continuous light strip makes a lot at the rear. Inside, it largely corresponds to the weaker models, apart from the black bucket seats with vegan suede-look covers.
State-of-the-art on the move
Despite all the questions about the usefulness of overpowered electric cars, a strong impression remains. Above all, the jerk-free acceleration when you go from 80 to 200 km/h when the left lane becomes free, until a small van is in the way again. Or the typical high-pitched singing of the two electric motors, which, in unison with the rolling noise of the fat tires and the rushing of the wind, invite you to the concert. In addition, the feeling of moving in the midst of a technological world of tablets, which suck all information from the virtual network, thanks to the increasingly widespread use of various monitors.
It remains exciting to see whether higher earners will dare to take a trip to a Korean car dealership when the EV6 GT is allowed on the road at the end of the year. The first edition for early bookers has already sold out without even being a meter in the hands of a customer.
Technical data
Mid-size five-seat SUV; Length: 4,70 meters, width: 1,89 meters (without exterior mirrors), height: 1,55 meters, wheelbase: 2,90 meters, trunk volume: 480 - 1.260 liters
Two electric motors with 160 kW/218 hp (front) + 270 kW/367 hp (rear), total output: 430 kW/585 hp, maximum torque: 740 Nm, battery with 77,4 kWh, one-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, 0 - 100 km/h: 3,5 s, Vmax: 260 km/h. Standard consumption (WLTP) 20,6 kWh/100 km. CO2 emissions: 0 g/km. Range: 424 km or 546 km (city mode), efficiency class: A+++, Price: from approx. 66.000 euros