Kia officially launches its EV6 AWD electric crossover

After giving us Kia officially launched its new EV6 compact crossover on Tuesday last week. , the first dedicated BEV built on the company’s new E-GMP platform will offer a host of fully electric powertrain choices as well as the option for all-wheel drive.

“EV6, as the first dedicated Kia EV, is a showcase of progressive human-centered design and electrified power,” said Karim Habib, senior vice president and director of the Kia Global Design Center, in a statement. . “We are convinced that the EV6 is a compelling and relevant model for the new era of electric vehicles.”

When it arrives in dealer showrooms, buyers will have a choice between the standard EV6 and a high-performance version, the EV6 GT. The standard EV6 comes with either a 58 kWh or 77.4 kWh battery, while the GT will only offer the larger 77.4 kWh pack. Likewise, the EV6 will have both RWD and AWD options while the GT will be exclusively available as an AWD version with an electronic limited slip differential. As such, a 2WD EV6 with the 58 kWh battery offers 167 HP, 223 HP for the 2WD 77.4 kWh version and 231 – 320 HP for the AWD 58 kWh and 77.4 kWh versions, respectively. The GT tops them all at 576 hp with 545 lb-ft of torque and a target range of 230 miles.

According to Kia, an EV6 with 2-wheel drive and the 58 kWh battery can accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in a respectable 6.2 seconds. With the 77.4 kWh pack, a 2WD EV6 can do the same in 5.2 seconds, and travel up to 316 miles on a single charge – roughly the distance from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The GT version, on the other hand, can reach 100 km / h when stationary in just 3.5 seconds and peak at 260 km / h. The EV6 can also tow up to 1600 kilograms as long as the batteries remain above 35% of their capacity.

The standard and GT versions sport a rugged 800V electrical architecture most commonly seen in luxury electric vehicles. This will allow vehicles to use both 400V and 800V charging stations without the need for additional power adapters. Filling a 77.4kWh pack with 10-80% battery capacity should only take 18 minutes with a DC fast charger, by Kia, while adding 100 kilometers of range will require less. 5 minutes. With Kia’s connected car system, dubbed “Kia Connect”, drivers can find nearby charging stations via the vehicle’s infotainment display.

The EV6 also has an integrated charge control unit (ICCU) which will allow two-way charging. In other words, the vehicle can both draw electricity from the grid and serve as a mobile power supply, discharging the on-board battery to deliver up to 3.6 kW to other devices – including another electric vehicle.

To minimize electrical expenses, the EV6 uses a number of energy recovery features such as a highly efficient heat pump that recovers excess energy from the cooling system, so even when outside temperatures drop. below zero, the vehicle will retain 80% of its standard range. The EV6 also offers an advanced six-stage regenerative braking system. Drivers can choose the aggressiveness of the system to harvest kinetic energy using shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. When the system is set to maximum, called “i-PEDAL” mode, the EV6 can be operated without you ever having touched the brakes. Just release the accelerator to slowly slow the vehicle to a stop.

Thanks to the skateboard-style design of the E-GMP platform, the EV6 has a spacious, flat-floor cabin with 1,300 liters of storage in the rear trunk (with the rear seats folded down) and an additional 20 liters available in chest. For this whole room, the cabin of the EV6 is surprisingly clean. The dashboard controls and instrument panel have been replaced with a pair of 12-inch curved touchscreens designed to minimize glare and glare. Drivers will also enjoy a steering column-mounted augmented reality HUD that displays relevant information – such as vehicle speed, navigation instructions, and ADAS alerts.

In addition to the standard tariff of driver assistance features found on the market, the EV6’s ADAS includes a new Safe Exit Assist feature, which alerts you to oncoming traffic when you get out of the vehicle. Plus, Intelligent Remote Park Assist will pull the vehicle in and out of locations even when you’re not behind the wheel, and On-Road Driving Assistance 2, which not only keeps the EV6 at a speed set, but also ensures that it stays centered inside. his way.

The EV6 will be available in select markets from the second half of 2021 and could arrive in the United States early next year. There is no word on pricing yet.