South Korea car maker Kia expects to treble sales of its popular EV6 electric SUV in Australia in 2023, as supplies start to free up and ahead of the impending launch of the high performance GT version.
The EV6 GT will become the company’s flagship or halo vehicle in Australia, and its most powerful – and most expensive – production car ever, with an impressive acceleration from zero to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, and a top speed (on a race track, if you don’t mind) of 260km/h.
The EV6 shares the same platform as its sister company Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, and was initially launched in Australia 12 months ago in two versions, the Air and the GT-Line.
The GT version will trump both, coming in at an anticipated price of $99,590, before on roads, but with enough performance – and attention to local ride and handling tuning – to displace the petrol powered Stinger once and for all as its “halo” car.
Kia Australia chief operating officer Damien Meredith says the company already has 250 orders for the GT version, which he says the company should be able to fill within the first few months. The EV6 GT will be officially launched – with confirmed pricing – at the Australian Open tennis event in January that the company sponsors.
Kia had aimed to sell around 500 of its EV6 range in 2022, despite seeing demand of 10 times that number. It was constrained by supply issues and the decision to send more cars to Europe to meet tight emissions standards, but in the end it managed to deliver more than 700, Meredith says.
In 2023, Meredith says the company aims to more than triple that delivery number of EV6s to 2,400, or even 2,500.
“This car is super important to the brand,” Meredith says, before adding of the GT version:
“Here is a car that combines the power, performance and agility of a track worthy sports car, while also providing comfort, on road driveability and practicality for everyday use.
“It is attracting a remarkable level of attention.”
The EV6 has certainly been one of the most impressive EV offerings seen to date in Australia. And it comes with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities too. You can check out our reviews of the Air and GT Line versions here:Â Kia EV6 test drive: Sleek electric SUV with superb handling, and can power your home
The GT version promises a lot more. Its total power output – from a 160kW front axle mounted motor and a new 270kW rear mounted motor – is 80 per cent higher than the next most powerful EV6 variant.
It shares a lot in common with the others, including a 77.4kWh battery, exterior V2L capability and a wide sun roof. The GT version also includes 21″ allow wheels, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, electronic controlled suspension and electronic slip differential that improves steering and handling performance, and green callipers.
The Intelligent Front-lighting System (IFS) uses the front view camera to recognise oncoming and preceding vehicles. The system reduces the rise of dazzling oncoming traffic or preceding vehicles with high beam by controlling individual LEDs within each headlight. In a Kia Australia first, vehicles with IFS also feature sequential indicators.
It also has a new drive mode: GT. This configures the vehicle’s e-motors, braking, steering, the semi-active dampers, e-LSD and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems into their most dynamic settings, “transforming the character and response of the car, and providing a highly engaging experience,” the company says.
Drivers can further tailor the various power and suspension control systems to suit their individual preferences.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded the Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid web sites. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review, and owns a Tesla Model 3.