Kia New Zealand has confirmed several iterations of the Korean manufacturer’s stunning new battery electric vehicle, the EV6, will be on sale in New Zealand. And they will be available before the end of the year.
Kiwis interested in investigating EV6 ownership are encouraged to visit the Kia website for full range details.
The fully electric Kia EV6 will feature supercar-like acceleration, extra-long range, and ultra-fast charging ability when it arrives in New Zealand.
Full details of the company’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle have been revealed today, along with plans for the EV6 to go on sale here later this year. New Zealanders can register their interest in online via the EV6 section of the Kia website.
“It’s a very exciting car and its size is ideally suited to the New Zealand market,” says Todd McDonald, Managing Director of Kia New Zealand. “The wheelbase is similar to that of our Sorento large SUV, so it will be a spacious and comfortable vehicle.”
The EV6 will come with a choice of multiple long-range, zero-emissions powertrain configurations. Top versions will boast a range of 510km – among the best of any EV currently on the market. The 800V charging capability means EV6 can go from 10 to 80% battery charge in just 18 minutes on a DC system.
The GT version of the Kia EV6 will also boast thrilling performance. Equipped with twin electric motors and all-wheel drive, the GT EV6 is engineered to thrill, accelerating from zero to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds and boasting a top speed of 260km/h.
The EV6 is the first of 11 new BEV models expected to be released by Kia before 2026 – seven will be built on E-GMP architecture, and four derivative EVs will be based on existing models.
While the EV6 is designed with a long wheelbase of 2,900mm, exterior dimensions are still compact, with short overhangs, so it will still comfortably fit within Kiwi garage and parking building spaces.
The new car is packed with intelligent and flexible interior features and an abundance of cabin storage areas as well, including 520-litres (VDA) of boot space with the second-row seats in place. With the second row folded, stowage capacity increases to approximately 1,300 litres. There’s also an additional 52-litres of space under the bonnet in 2WD models and 20-litres for AWD models.
Above all, Kia intends the EV6 to be a driver’s car and among striking elements are the 12-inch dual screens that deliver a wide array of information in a simple yet sophisticated format, providing instant read-outs on the vehicle’s power systems.
A unique feature is Active Sound Design (ASD), which provides drivers with audible feedback through the speakers on the speed the car is travelling.
EV6 buyers, including those in New Zealand, will be offered a range of options, including long-range (77.4 kWh) and standard-range (58.0 kWh) high-voltage battery packs. This is Kia’s first electric vehicle to be available both with 2WD and all-wheel drive options.
The 2WD 77.4 kWh EV6 can travel over 510km on a single charge on the WLTP combined cycle. The 77.4 kWh battery pack is paired with a 168kW electric motor powering the rear wheels, and for AWD models a 239kW electric motor powers the front and rear wheels. The latter version produces 605Nm of torque, enabling the EV6 to accelerate from zero to 100km/h in just 5.2 seconds.
The 58.0 kWh EV6 can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 6.2 seconds, with a maximum 605Nm torque available on the AWD version. The 58.0 kWh battery pack is paired with a 125kW electric motor powering the rear wheels, and for AWD models a 173kW electric motor powers the front and rear wheels.
Equipped with 430 kW dual motors, the top-of the-range EV6 GT takes electric performance to another level. With a maximum 740Nm torque from its twin electric motors mounted front and rear, the AWD GT version accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 260km/h.
The charging system in the EV6 is more flexible than previous generation BEVs thanks to an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU). The ICCU offers a new vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, which is capable of discharging energy from the vehicle battery. The V2L function can supply up to 3.6 kW of power and is capable, for example, of powering a 55-inch television and air conditioner simultaneously for more than 24 hours. The system is can also charge another EV, if needed.
For day-to-day use, the EV6 can be charged overnight at home, however it offers 800V and 400V charging, without the need for additional components or adapters, from 10 to 80% in just 18 minutes or a top-up charge of 100km of driving range in less than four-and-a-half minutes.
An important point for markets like New Zealand is that with more than 35% charge left in the battery, the EV6 can tow up to 1,600kg.
Energy-recuperating technologies used to maximise driving range include Kia’s latest-generation energy-efficient heat pump, which scavenges waste heat from the car’s coolant system. This ensures that at -7 degrees Celsius the car can achieve 80% of the range that would be possible at 25 degrees Celsius.
Kia is also promising a full suite of safety systems that incorporates the latest technologies to keep the vehicle and occupants safer on the road.
To register interest in the new Kia EV6 buyers can go to www.kia.co.nz