Kia has announced details of its new EV6, the brand’s first dedicated EV that will arrive in Singapore in 2022; top-spec GT variant boasts 584hp and Taycan rivalling straightline performance

UPDATE 23 Nov 2022 : The EV 6 is officially launched in Singapore, find out all you need to know here.
We’ve also test-driven the car in Singapore – find out if it can match up to Tesla!

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

Kia has announced details of its new EV6 electric vehicle (EV), which is set to arrive in Singapore in 2022. The EV6 is the brand’s first model to be built on a dedicated EV platform, and will offer up to 510km of electric range when fully charged. It also features 350kW fast-charging capability, with the ability to be recharged from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.

More excitingly, the top-of-the-line EV6 GT variant boasts an impressive 584hp and 740Nm of torque, allowing it to go from 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds, and hit a top speed of 260km/h, making it faster than a Porsche Taycan 4S. Pricing has not been announced, but a rough estimate could put the EV6 as somewhere north of S$200,000 at least.

Design

As detailed earlier, the EV6 takes the form of a premium midsize SUV (it’s only slightly smaller than a Toyota Harrier), and is the first model to feature Kia’s new design philosophy “Opposites United”.

The front end is dominated by a sleek new interpretation of Kia’s Tiger Grille, dubbed ‘Digital Tiger Face’ by the company’s design chief, Karim Habib. The rear gets a more dramatic treatment, with the thin LED brake lights spanning the width of the car, and incorporated as part of the boot lid spoiler. 

From the side, the EV6’s profile features a roofline that curves towards a sloping C-pillar that gives the car a coupe-like silhouette, not unlike the Jaguar I-Pace. The car’s naming convention is also a signal as to the car’s positioning, with the company set to launch a further seven new EVs in the years ahead to sit above and below the EV6. Naturally as Kia’s most recently announced model, it has the new Kia badge.

Interior and Tech

Using the new Hyundai-Kia Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) means that the EV6 is able to exercise flexibility in its interior packaging. By pushing the wheels out to the extremes, the EV6 boasts a wheelbase of 2,900mm, resulting in increased cabin space and legroom for passengers.

Dominating the dashboard is a new curved LED screen that comprises two 12-inch screens, incorporating the driver’s instrument panel and infotainment system. The design is meant to give the interior an open feel, and is complemented by a flat floor that allows for a lower compartment that can accommodate large items like a handbag or laptop.

The head-up display uses augmented reality (AR) technology, while the Kia Connect real time connectivity system now allows for over-the-air updates. Kia Connect has also been optimised for EV driving, allowing users to find locations and pricing of EV charging points, plan smart charging schedules and check the range radius based on the remaining charge.

The EV6 offers up to 520-litres of boot space, expandable to 1,300-litres if the rear seats are folded down. The car’s EV design means that there is also the capability to offer a ‘frunk’, or front boot space, and it offers up to 52-litres of capacity for rear-wheel-drive models, and 20-litres for all-wheel-drive cars.

Kia has also pushed for sustainability in the design and development of the EV6, and the car features slim and lightweight seats that are made from recycled plastics and sustainable materials. The company states that the seats uses recycled materials that are the equivalent of over 100 plastic bottles.

The usual suite of driver assistance and convenience features are present here, including Highway Driving Assist, a function that combines adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance. More interestingly, the EV6 also features what Kia calls Remote Smart Parking Assist, which allows the driver to park or exit a parking spot while outside the car, using just the remote.

Performance

Three versions of the EV6 will be available at launch, but the headline model is the EV6 GT, which packs in an impressive 584hp and 740Nm of torque, allowing it to go from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds. That makes it faster than the Porsche Taycan 4S, which does the same in 4 seconds.

The base models are the EV6 and EV6 GT-Line, both of which are available with rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive, as well as standard and long range batteries. This results in a combination of power outputs, depending on the set up, as illustrated by the table below. The high-performance GT is only available with the long range battery and 4WD.

Range and Charging

The EV6, in standard rear-wheel-drive trim with the long range battery, offers a range of up to 510km on a full charge. Kia has not disclosed range figures for the other variants in the line-up, but they are expected to span from between 400 to 500km depending on the drivetrain setup.

The EV6 also allows for 350kW fast charging, with 400V or 800V charging capabilities – the latter matching the current top-level 800V charging tech found in the Porsche Taycan. With the right fast charger infrastructure, the EV6 is able to recharge its batteries from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes.

For those who are in a hurry though, Kia claims that the EV6 can also get you 100km of range with less than 5 minutes of charging, or about the same time as refuelling a regular internal combustion engine (ICE) car. Kia hopes that this would signal the tipping point towards the mass adoption of EVs, by eliminating one of the less desirable aspects of EV motoring, i.e. long charging times.

Another trick up the EV6’s sleeve is the ability for the car to function as a mobile generator, or what Kia calls Vehicle-2-Load (V2L) functionality. The car incorporates an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) that can supply up to 3.6kW of power, and can be used to generate enough electricity to operate an air conditioner and 55-inch television for 24 hours, useful for when power outages occur. The system can also be used to charge another EV if needed.

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