The large battery pack makes all this possible. Built on the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform), the Kia EV6 has a high-voltage electrical system. Like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT we featured last month, it runs an 800-volt set-up. The 679-volt lithium-ion battery pack has 384 cells for an energy density of 77.4 kWh. That’s good for 528 km of range in the RWD and up to 505 km in the AWD. These are the WLTP figures, though, and in a low-traffic, mostly downhill journey, I think upwards of 550 km would indeed be possible. ‘How?’ you may ask. Well, as with every modern performance-oriented electric car, the EV6 has multiple recuperation modes—the most of any car I’ve driven—with four levels, a choice of manual or automatic energy recuperation management, plus “i-Pedal” mode which is essentially one-pedal driving. Lifting off the accelerator pedal in this mode feels like stamping on the brake pedal with moderate pressure. Except, I’m not touching the brake. Just to illustrate this point further, imagine this. I started off with the car showing an indicated 307 km. With the hot laps done and dusted to experience its true potential, I saw 270 km left. Yet, after getting done with the rest of our shoot, back and forth in the run-off areas away from the race track, I saw 305 km again. That’s an indicated 35 kilometres recovered with some usage in between. So the total range is merely a reference of potential. It can go up or down depending on the driving style. Okay, let’s talk about those hot laps now.
“The EV6 is no a race car”, Hari Singh, legendary rallyist and our lead instructor for the day, said loud and clear. Yet, there we were exiting the pit-lane in complete silence, me heavy breathing in anticipation as I glanced upward while passing Sergio Perez’s then Force India pit-garage. Shut, of course. It has been so for nine years. Out on to the track and into the first corner. I get accustomed to the controls in Eco, before settling into “Normal” and the “i-Pedal” mode to see how hard the recuperation really works. It’s significant. After a lap getting used to the car, it was “Sport” mode selected after coming to a stop on the exit of Turn Three. The back straight beckoned.
With neck-snapping force, some unknown G, and the ferocity of a rabid, blown V8, the Kia EV6 claws in with all four feet and launches forward. This GT-Line AWD will hit 100 km/h from standstill in 5.2 seconds and get up to what is an indicated 192 km/h, or a true 185 km/h on the electronic limiter. It’s bloody quick! Still on a high from the top speed acceleration run, I brake hard—with the pedal this time—and point it into the right-hand Turn Four. Tyre squeal erupts but the EV6 holds its line with only a hint of understeer. The short loop meant I had some barricades and a couple of tight right-handers before I was back on the start-finish straight. This time it was attack mode into Turn One and a sweep across for Turn Two and a lunge into Turn Three as I then lift off and let it cool down. Wow. I couldn’t believe how flat and planted it was back there. Then again, a 477-kg battery pack mounted in the floor certainly helps not just by lowering the centre of gravity, but also by acting as a counterweight to whatever shenanigans the car is subjected to. Speaking of gravity, there’s another interesting feature—the zero-gravity seats. It adjusts to let the body settle into the most natural and stress-free position and distribute whatever pressure it may have needing release. Sort of like my usual driving position, then.
To sum up, what Kia have done is watched and learned. What they haven’t done is compromise on anything. The Kia EV6 GT-Line won’t come cheap. It has the style, the panache, the grace and the excitement to draw in the crowd. Yes, only 100 are available for now but it’s a welcome move to gauge the growing appeal for a well-built electric car. Even with the nearly 80-kWh battery, it can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 73 minutes at 50 kW DC and just 18 minutes at the maximum capacity of 350 kW. Good enough? Sure. It’s a huge step forward for the EV. The Germans need to look over their shoulders. Again.
Need to Know – Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD
Price: Rs 80 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom)
Battery Pack: 679-volt, 384-cell, lithium-polymer, 111.2-Ah, 77.4-kWh
Electric Motors: Permanent magnet synchronous, front and rear|
Max Power: 74-kW (101-hp) front, 165-kW (224-hp) rear
Max Torque: 255 Nm front, 350 Nm rear
Net Peak Output: 239 kW (325 hp) @ 6,800-9,200 rpm
Peak Torque: 605 Nm @ 0-4,400 rpm
Transmission: Single-speed, automatic, front and rear, all-wheel drive
Performance: 5.2 seconds 0-100 km/h, 185 km/h top speed, 505 km range (claimed)
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear
Weight: 2,090 kg
