- Kia revealed more specs about the EV6 electric vehicle.
- It will offer a GT performance model with 577 horsepower and all-wheel drive.
- The EV6 should go on sale in the U.S. later this year.
Kia has surprised us with a high-performance version of its new electric car, the EV6. Called the EV6 GT, this range-topping model features an all-wheel-drive powertrain with front and rear electric motors that produce a total of 577 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque. It's available only with the larger of the EV6's two battery packs and also features visual tweaks to set it apart from the lesser versions.
Kia's performance claims for the GT are impressive: a sprint to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 128 mph. It also features software that is said to to mimic the behavior of a limited-slip differential. Hyundai has not announced any sort of performance version of the related Ioniq 5 EV, so Kia may have the exclusive on this high-powered drivetrain.
The GT looks a bit different than other EV6s thanks to larger wheels and tires and more aggressive front and rear fascias. Yellow brake calipers match with yellow accents found inside the cabin, and the seats look sporty and aggressively bolstered. There will also be a GT-Line version of the EV6 with similar visual changes as the GT but a smaller battery pack and less powerful drivetrains.
The various configurations for the standard EV6 and GT-Line models include a 168-hp one-motor RWD model or a 232-hp two-motor AWD model with the Standard Range battery pack and a 225-hp one-motor RWD and a 321-hp two-motor AWD model with the Long Range battery pack. Kia claims that the RWD Long Range configuration will provide a 316-mile range on the European WLTP cycle; U.S.-specific EPA range numbers will likely be lower.
We should get more detailed U.S. information for the EV6 within the next few months, as Kia says that its first EV will go on sale in the second half of this year. We expect a starting price of around $45,000 for the standard model, with the performance-oriented GT pushing much higher than that.
