New Kia EV6 GT - first ride in the Korean electric monster

Created: 04/20/2022, 14:42

By: Rudolf Boegel

The Kia EV6 GT is a real corner robber thanks to all-wheel drive and an electronic locking differential.

© www.weigl.biz / Kia

With the GT model of the Stromer EV6, Kia is bringing its most powerful production car onto the market.

585 hp and 740 Nm of torque - even the ride is an experience.

• The new EV6 GT looks harmless from the outside - but there's a beast on the inside.

• The sports SUV has two electric motors – one on the front axle and one at the rear.

• Watch out Porsche: The 2.3-tonner runs from 0 to 100 in just 3.5 seconds.

So sharp that you are not (yet) allowed to drive it yourself.

There it is now, the new Kia EV6 GT.

It is the most powerful production model from the Koreans and puts 585 hp on the road.

Before us is a prototype of this genus.

It differs only marginally from the "normal" EV6*.

Vertical lines on the front aprons, yellow brake calipers, 21-inch wheels and a hinted diffuser at the rear.

It feels like the picture puzzle "Original and fake - find the five mistakes!" The fact that there is hardly any difference - does not matter, because the EV6 already looks pretty good and sporty.

The top-of-the-range model doesn't have to add anything to its looks - it already does that with the engine and drive and quite powerfully at that.

Boomerang rear lights and yellow brake calipers make the Kia EV6 GT a characteristic car..jpg © www.weigl.biz / Kia

A power monster at the touch of a button

Maybe it's because not everything has been finalized or homologated - in any case, we're only allowed to sit on the passenger seat in the prototype.

Here, too, yellow makes the difference, for example with the contrasting seams.

And the

are also not found in any other EV6 model.

After driving at high speed on the autobahn near Frankfurt, we realize that they make sense.

Small detail - big effect.

on the steering wheel

that you should only press when you have a clear path.

He turns all control systems on and turns the normal EV6 into

.

The GT cockpit looks quite similar to the traditional EV6 dashboard.

With one exception © www.weigl.biz / Kia

3.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h

The Kia owes the fact that the GT is a special electric car that

to its technical father.

Albert Biermann already set dynamic accents at BMW M and then was the first non-Korean head of the research and development department at the Hyundai Motor Group, to which Kia also belongs.

The electric platform E-GMP was created under his aegis, on which stands next to the EV6 or the Ioniq5 from Hyundai.

And of course now the GT too.

Officially, it is called the "

".

In reality, the GT is a beast in bodywork.

Compared to the most powerful EV6 to date, which is in fact a cross between a sedan, SUV and coupe, it puts

on the road.

585 (or 430 kW) to be precise.

They are released by two permanent magnet synchronous machines.

The smaller (218 hp) is in the front, the larger (367 hp) in the back.

This allows the all-wheel drive to be finely dosed, depending on the requirements of the road or the mood of the driver.

The torque is 740 Newton meters - and thus in the range of a rocket during the start process (3.5 seconds from 0 to 100).

This yellow button located directly on the steering wheel is only available on the GT version of the Kia EV6.

This will arm all control systems.

© www.weigl.biz / Kia

Relaxation until the yellow button is pressed

Now you could think about whether it makes sense to switch to more effective drives such as Stromer and at the same time increase the engine power infinitely.

Because the same applies here:

- and the electricity doesn't just come from the socket.

There's no denying that a car like the Kia EV6 GT is a lot of fun.

Just not the question of whether a car can be so much fun in these times.

But maybe the saying “live and let live!” still applies.

We can even feel from the passenger seat that the GT version of the EV6 isn't just fun, it's great fun.

First we head leisurely towards the motorway -

.

The landscape glides by quietly.

Such an electric car is a fine thing, also for the ears.

So calm, so relaxing.

Until the yellow button on the steering wheel comes into play.

The GT can be distinguished from the conventional model by the vertical grilles in the front end.

© www.weigl.biz / Kia

Small button, big effect

Our driver gently presses the small button – with great effect.

GT means that all driving systems are now armed.

It starts with the two engines, which

are being prepared

This is what the so-called inverters (developed by Kia itself) do in the high-performance electronics.

They not only convert the DC voltage from the battery into the AC voltage required by the electric motor, but also monitor and regulate the units in terms of torque and speed.

Inverters have to react quickly and reliably, this is the only way such performance requirements are possible.

At the same time

, the chassis stiffer.

That means: In corners, the tendency to roll and also rearing up under strong acceleration or diving when braking are suppressed to the maximum.

The sports seats are equipped with yellow contrast stitching.

They are only available in the GT model of the EV6.

© www.weigl.biz / Kia

More traction thanks to the e-locking differential

And then he does it, the driver.

Full of substance, full throttle, full of excitement.

Even at a speed of 80, the EV6 GT makes a huge leap forward and runs like a horde of wild horses

.

We don't reach the 260 top speed this morning on the Frankfurt autobahn, but we are inclined to believe it.

That acceleration actually feels like a rocket launch.

But one who doesn't want to stop.

In any case, the stressed cervical vertebrae said thank you.

When braking, however, the EV6 GT electric rocket does not need a parachute, the larger brake discs (380 x 34 mm at the front, 360 x 20 mm at the rear) are completely sufficient here.

The Kia runs with full use of its power even in the curves as if on rails.

Finally, it has an electronic locking differential on board, which automatically sends the torque to the wheels with the strongest grip.

This gives you

.

Our test driver proves that this is no gray theory.

The sudden lane change at high speed is exactly like a surgical procedure

When refueling at fast charging stations, the EV6 is extremely fast thanks to 800 volt technology.

From 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes.

© www.weigl.biz / Kia

Our verdict on the Kia EV6 GT

Can performance be a sin?

We mean no, unless you drive around at full throttle all the time.

But you don't do that anyway, because an electric car like the EV6 is a lot of fun as it is.

And sometimes it's just nice to know that you can if you want to.

Regardless of whether you actually do it.

Specifications Kia EV6 GT