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Enlarge / You want a eager eye to identify that this can be a Kia EV6 GT—the bigger wheels and neon inexperienced brake calipers are the principle clue.Jonathan Gitlin
LAS VEGAS—In January, we obtained our first probability to drive Kia’s new EV6 electrical car. Constructed utilizing Hyundai Motor Group’s wonderful new E-GMP platform, the EV6 immediately impressed us, providing a much less polarizing design and extra playful dealing with than the additionally spectacular Hyundai Ioniq 5. Designed as a devoted EV platform, E-GMP options an 800 V battery pack that permits for speedy quick charging, and the rear- and all-wheel drive can obtain wonderful ranges of effectivity.
In that first drive, after which once more on native roads over the summer time, my seat time within the EV6 confirmed Hyundai Motor Group’s knowledge in hiring Albert Biermann away from BMW to construct up the Korean automakers’ analysis and growth packages. However now Kia’s turned the dial properly previous 11 with the brand new $61,400 EV6 GT, a limited-production variant that may outdrag some Ferraris and Lamborghinis, and experience the rumble strips at a racetrack with the very best of them.
Between the axles of the EV6 GT you may discover the identical 77.4 kWh (gross capability) battery pack as in different EV6s—the corporate has discontinued the smaller-battery variant (the EV6 Mild) as a consequence of little or no demand. However within the EV6 GT, that battery will now feed far more energy to the pair of electrical motors that drive the entrance and rear wheels. There is a complete of 576 hp (430 kW), in reality, plus a mixed 545 lb-ft (738 Nm) of torque, cut up between a 215-hp (160 kW) entrance motor and a 362-hp (270 kW) rear motor with an digital limited-slip differential.
The modifications to the GT are largely mechanical and software program versus styling tweaks.
Jonathan Gitlin
Up to now, I’ve written that the EV6 appears a bit like a Lamborghini Urus. Now it has as a lot efficiency as one, too.
Jonathan Gitlin
On the rear, there is a new diffuser.
Jonathan Gitlin
To place down that energy, the EV6 GT rides on 21-inch wheels shod with Goodyear Eagle F1 efficiency tires. And to rein it in once more, despite the fact that Kia has elevated the quantity of regenerative braking from 0.3 G to 0.4 G, it is also seen match to equip the EV6 GT with massive, ventilated disc brakes (15 inches on the entrance, 14.2 inches on the rear) with monoblock calipers, picked out in a fetching neon inexperienced paint. The automobile rides on electronically managed dampers with revised spring charges and retuned steering in comparison with lesser EV6s, and there are distinctive entrance suspension elements, plus new traction and stability management algorithms that make this fairly a playful automobile.
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To entry all that energy and torque, you’ll want to press the neon inexperienced GT button on the steering wheel—this unlocks the total 576 hp and places the digital security web in its most permissive setting. In eco mode, the EV6 GT sends simply 287 hp (214 KW) of energy to the motors—largely to the rear motor for higher effectivity. In regular and sport modes, the battery will increase most energy to the motors to 429 hp (320 kW), which is sufficient to make this a fast EV regardless of a not-inconsiderable curb weight of 5,732 lbs (2,600 kg). (This additionally explains the massive brakes.)
However if you happen to press the inexperienced button, and you have a minimum of 70 % state of cost remaining, the automobile unlocks all 576 hp. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s drag strip, the EV6 GT simply ran 11.5-second quarter-mile occasions, crossing the road at 118 mph (190 km/h). Kia quotes a 0-60 mph (0-98 km/h) time of three.4 seconds, a tenth of a second quicker than rivals just like the Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency and the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, and the EV6 GT will maintain accelerating till the velocity limiter kicks in at 161 mph (260 km/h).
Enlarge / I ran the drag strip twice and obtained ETs of 11.557 and 11.587 with out a lot issue. And the automobiles appeared in a position to deal with repeated runs.Jonathan GitlinOn the observe, I used to be in a position to correctly discover GT mode’s extra permissive dealing with and located a automobile that may powerslide fairly readily, however which is simple to catch. The suspension was in a position to deal with using the curbs, though it is true that the street course at LVMS is flat, and the curbs are easy and never tooth-rattling. A warmup lap in sport mode adopted by laps in GT mode verify simply how a lot quicker the latter is. And you will be glad to know that the brakes work properly, despite the fact that you do discover the automobile’s mass on observe when it is time to gradual issues down from velocity.
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