2023 Kia EV6 GT: Will we get it here?

If you thought Tesla was the only electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer that can make ludicrously fast EVs, Kia has its ace in its hand.

The Kia EV6 GT is an all-electric, power sliding crossover with 584 PS. The Korean carmaker announced on November 2022 its price for the American market. 

It will start at US$ 62,695 (approximately PhP 3.64 million as of press time) and is expected to go on sale in the U.S. by the end of 2022.

The EV6 GT, which debuted worldwide on October 2022, gets the same 77.4-kWh battery pack as the rest of the EV6 range.

However, the front and rear electric motors are cranked up to produce a combined 584 PS and a staggering 739 Nm of torque.

This is good for a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h. 

However, the maximum range goes down to just 342 kilometers on a single change, compared to 373 kilometers for a base-model EV6 or up to 499 kilometers in the long-range variant.

Beefier suspension and brakes for the Kia EV6 GT

The EV6 GT also features a different suspension from the regular EV6.

The front MacPherson strut setup has been replaced with a multilink system, while a crossbar has been added to the back end for improved rigidity. All the dampers are also electronically controlled.

Other goodies to delight performance drivers are the four-piston front brakes and stronger electric brake booster. The EV6 GT also features regenerative braking to help recharge the battery.

Sideways action

Meanwhile, helping get all that electrified power down is an electronic rear limited-slip differential.

This ensures that power is evenly distributed between the rear wheels. Combined with the EV6 GT’s Drift mode, you can get this crossover properly sideways (just make sure to do it on a race track).

Meanwhile, Kia said GT Mode optimizes the vehicle’s steering, suspension, brakes and stability control system to maximize every bit of the EV6 GT.

Neon-green accents

Aside from the massive 21-inch alloy wheels, the EV6 GT features neon-green brake calipers to distinguish it from its more sedate siblings.

This theme is continued inside, with neon-green piping and stitching on the front bucket seats that each weigh 2.4 kilograms less than the stock seats.

The GT Mode button at the four o’clock position on the sports steering wheel is also in neon green.

Kia Philippines unveiled the EV6 GT Line at the 8th Philippine International Motor Show on September 2022.

Although the final specifications haven't been released, it is a sporty-oriented, lower-tier variant compared to the GT.

It remains quite potent with 228 PS and 350 Nm of torque for the rear-wheel-drive model or 325 PS and 605 Nm of torque for the all-wheel-drive variant.

The Kia EV6 is expected to launch locally in early 2023 with prices starting under PHP 4 million.

Do you think Kia Philippines should also bring in the hard-charging, power sliding EV6 GT?