The new Kia EV6 GT is the brand’s most powerful model to date, but it will be a true grand tourer with a high degree of versatility, according to the company’s development guru.
The new top-of-the-line version of the Korean company’s Kia EV6 crossover features a twin-motor electric powertrain with a combined output of 577 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque, which translates to a 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 161 mph.
But Albert Biermann, the retired director of research and development at Hyundai Motor Group, who is now an adviser to the firm, promised that the EV6 GT “will be a real GT”.
“We started GT on the Stinger, and the GT is still the top model. It’s not a racing car, that’s another story. This one is designed for grand touring, and it offers good speed, while being fun to drive.
Biermann insisted that a GT performance version was not in the original product plan for the EV6, and that development was done entirely in-house by the company’s engineers once the company began to realize the possibilities of E-GMP.
The EV6 GT uses the same electric motors as the high-end versions of the standard EV6. While the front unit produces the usual 214 hp, the output of the rear motor has been increased to 362 hp through the use of a second inverter which powers it. The machine also features the latest version of Hyundai Motor Group’s e-LSD limited-slip differential, which balanced power between all four wheels.
The GT retains the EV6’s 77.6kWh battery and, with an efficiency of 2.7mpkWh, it has an official range of 263 miles. Like other E-GMP models, the EV6 GT is capable of ultra-fast charging, with 10-80% filling taking 18 minutes.
Biermann noted that Hyundai Motor Group’s bespoke electric E-GMP platform “is a fantastic base to start with” for a performance car, adding: “It didn’t need fundamental changes because it can handle this power level.” Kia engineers added extra control arms to the front axle to give the system more freedom, and also made a special tweak to the steering and adaptive dampers. The focus was on balancing high-speed performance and comfort.
There’s also a dedicated GT Drive mode, activated via a button on the steering wheel that optimizes the engines, braking, steering, suspension, e-LSD and electronic stability control for performance.
The upgraded engines and performance tweaks will also be used on the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but Biermann insisted the freedom offered by the E-GMP chassis means the cars will have very different characteristics. “The EV6 GT still gives us a lot of room to have fun cars that are very different from other brands,” he said. The Ioniq 5 N should take a more hardcore approach.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-07 07:01:23
