The most anticipated Kia EV6 variant was on show last week at the Goodwood Festival of speed.
Key points
Kia’s new high-performance flagship EV6 GT tackles the famous hillclimb
Demonstration of EV6 GT’s 430kw and 3.5-second 0-to-62mph acceleration – the most powerful Kia ever made
Pro rally driver Jade Paveley at the wheel throughout the weekend
The Kia EV6 GT was let out of the bag for a high-speed hillclimb at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The all-electric high-performance crossover is tackling the Festival’s famous hillclimb several times throughout the event, demonstrating its segment-defining performance in front of tens of thousands of visitors and the world’s audience watching it over the four days.
The EV6 GT combines exhilarating performance, first-class long-distance travel capabilities, ultra-fast charging tech, and an impressive real-world driving range for effortless cross-country touring.
It is also Kia’s most powerful production car to date. Based on Kia’s advanced Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), its all-electric dual-motor powertrain delivers 430kw and740 Nm torque. Perfect for Goodwood’s famous hillclimb, these credentials enable the EV6 GT to accelerate from 0-to-62mph in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 260 km/h.
The car also features a GT button on the steering, activating its ‘GT' mode. This automatically optimises the vehicle’s e-motors, braking, steering, suspension, e-LSD and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems for their most dynamic settings for a more engaging drive. Drivers can also tailor the car’s ride, handling and performance characteristics to suit their individual preferences by selecting the 'My Drive’ mode.
The car is being driven throughout the weekend by rally pro Jade Paveley, the perfect driver to tackle the nine-corner, 1.86-km track. Jade was 2021 British Rally Cross Country Championship (BXCC) Class T2 Champion and 2018 Junior Welsh Tarmac Rally Champion. She is also the end-of-stage reporter for the World Rally Championship and European World Rally Championship, and Marketing Director for Llandudno Kia, a Kia dealership in North Wales.
While local specifications have yet to be announced, Kia states it won’t necessarily offer more equipment than the GT-Line, though it will have more performance-oriented seats.
The GT variant has a unique front bumper, bright green brake callipers, and 21-inch alloy wheels, though it’s under the skin where the GT arguably most distinguishes itself from lesser EV6s. It features an electronic limited-slip differential, shuffling torque to the wheels with the most grip, as well as Electronic Control Suspension with continuous damping control. There’s also a dedicated Drift Mode, while the brakes are 380mm at the front and 360mm at the rear compared to 325mm all round on regular EV6s.
The driving range is quoted to be 424km on the stricter WLTP test cycle.
So when will we see the Kia EV6 GT in Australian showrooms, well it's excepted late this year, or early 2023. Full pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch.
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