Kia EV6 confirmed for Australia

Australia has been confirmed as a market for the new Kia EV6 electric car, which the Korean company today revealed is headlined by a 430kW/740Nm all-wheel drive GT model capable of accelerating to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, whirring on to a top speed of 260km/h and travelling up to 410km between recharges.

First unveiled in mid-March, the 2021 Kia EV6 is the first Kia to be based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP EV architecture.

The five-door crossover is also the first of seven battery-electric models Kia plans to launch based on E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) by 2026, while four EVs will be derived from existing models. At least some of those models will include high-performance GT flagships.

Looking out further, Kia forecasts EVs, plug-in hybrids and regular hybrids will make up 40 per cent of total sales by 2030, with an annual sales target of 1.6 million units. As part of this, Kia aims to grow its EV sales to 880,000 units in 2030 and become a top global seller.

In the short term, Kia is forecasting 100,000 annual sales for the EV6.

The Australian confirmation of EV6 was provided by Kia global president and CEO Ho Sung Song. However, he deflected when asked about pricing.

“Production for the Australian market will be available second half of this year,” he said.

“Launching strategy will be discussed and decided by our local subsidiary. They will announce more details in a later stage.”

Post press conference Kia Australia clarified production would start in the fourth quarter. Timing, pricing and specs will be announced later, but somewhere north of $65,000 is probably a good guess at a starting point.

Meanwhile, Kia’s first EV in Australia, the 2021 Kia Niro, arrives within months.

Launching the EV6 with a GT model makes sense, as it gives Kia something fresh to spruik despite closely following the launch of the very similar Hyundai IONIQ 5.

It emphasised the GT’s pace in a promotional video where it drag-raced a Ferrari California T, Porsche 911 Targa 4, McLaren 570S, Mercedes-AMG GT and Lamborghini Urus. It jumped away from the line first and was only beaten to the finish by the McLaren.

“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 for Hyundai Motor Group.

While the EV6 is based on Kia’s new ‘Opposites Unite’ exterior styling philosophy, including a new digital tiger face, and therefore looks distinctly different to the more angular IONIQ 5, both are five-seat wagons that measure up very close on size and – apart from the EV6 GT – have very similar powertrains and charging options including super-fast 800V.

Kia has announced a three-model line-up: EV6, EV6 GT-Line and EV6 GT. The first two are available as both rear- and all-wheel drive, while the GT is AWD only.

The EV6 and GT-Line model walk commences with a single e-motor 125kW/350Nm rear-wheel drive charged by the ‘standard range’ 58kWh battery pack. That battery can also be combined with a 173kW/605Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive.

The ‘long range’ 77.4kWh battery pack can come with a single 168kW/350Nm e-motor powering the rear wheels, or a 239kW/605Nm AWD.

The flagship EV6 GT also comes with the 77.4kWh battery pack. While it offers the headline performance numbers, there are some other impressive acceleration claims, including 0-100km/h in 5.2sec for the 77.4kWh AWD EV6. The 58kWh version adds one second to that time. 

When it comes to range, Kia is promoting the 510km claim for the 77kWh rear-drive EV6, based on the WLTP cycle, about 30km more than the IONIQ 5 which comes with a 72.6kWh long-range battery (the standard battery is the same for IONIQ 5 and EV6 at 58kWh). 

A 410km range is being targeted for the EV6 GT.

Like the IONIQ 5, the EV6 offers both 800V ultra-fast charging and 400V charging.

When hooked up to a 350kW DC fast-charger via its CCS plug, Kia claims an EV6 can recharge from 10 to 80 per cent of battery capacity in just 18 minutes. It can also add 100km of range in less than four-and-a-half minutes.

The EV6 can also regain battery charge via recuperation technologies including a new-generation heat pump and driver-adjustable regenerative braking.

The EV6 includes a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function which 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. As long as the battery charge is over 35 per cent, the EV6 can tow up to 1600kg.

Key EV6 measurements are a 2900mm wheelbase, an overall length of 4680mm (EV6) and 4690mm (GT-Line and GT), width of 1880mm (EV6) and 1890mm (GT-Line and GT), 1550mm height (EV6 and GT-Line) and 1545mm (GT).

Boot space is 530 litres, expanding to 1300L when the second-row seats are folded. The frunk offers up to 52L in a rear-drive EV6, while in the AWD that reduces to 20L.

Inside the cabin, seats are slim-line and trimmed in fabrics created using the equivalent of 111 recycled plastic water bottles.

In-cabin technology includes two integrated 12-inch curved displays for instrumentation and infotainment that have thin film panels utilising new structure and advanced technology for reducing light impact, an augmented reality head-up display, real-time services and over-the-air updates via Kia Connect and a 14-speaker Meridian surround audio system.

The speaker system also provides audible feedback to the driver about the speed the EV6 is doing, via a new Active Sound Design system.

Related: Kia EV6 breaks cover