Kia's EV6 will be faster than a Porsche Taycan

They won’t all be able of such performance feats, for along with the top GT version expect a range of EV6s when it arrives in showrooms towards the end of this year. You will be able to get both rear- and all-wheel drive versions, and models with high performance or long-range motor and battery options, creating a range that is likely to span a wide section of the battery-electric market, from Volkswagen ID.4 to Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron GT. Prices are tipped to start below £50,000 but with flagship GT well above that.

Whichever version you go for, all EV6s offer a zero-tailpipe emissions drivetrain with 800-volt fast-charging ability, bolted inside Kia/Hyundai’s new dedicated electric car platform and clothed by a body previewing the company’s new “oppositive united” styling direction. Also expect a spacious cabin in the modern idiom: clean, minimalist lines, recycled materials, and digital everywhere.

The fastest and hero car of the range is the dual-motor EV6 GT which will do 162mph and get from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds – for reference, the Porsche Taycan 4S does the same spring in 4.0 seconds. Backing up the 577PS (430kW) is a meaty 740Nm (548kW) of torque delivered across both axles, the rear one with an electronic limited-slip differential. Kia says acceleration is eye-watering, though it should be noted it also says all performance figures are “development targets” only.

Below the GT will be a range of cars, starting with an EV6 with the smallest (58kWh) battery and single rear motor with 168PS (125kW) for 0-62 in 6.2 seconds. A twin motor all-wheel-drive version boosts power to 235PS (173kW). Go for the larger (77kWh) battery and there’s a WLTP-sanctioned range of 316 miles available in single-motor, 229PS (168kW) form. The dual motor version with this battery gets 325PS (239kW) and 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds.

The fastest charging option using the 800-volt electrical architecture (also used by Porsche) is a top-up from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes; or a get-you-home 62 miles in 4.5 minutes – at the right sort of charger, of course.

As Kia’s first new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) using the company’s all-new electric-global modular platform (E-GMP) the EV6 stands out for more than its modular line-up and performance aims higher than any Kia before it. The design represents an equal break with Kia tradition, previewing what the firm has coined its “opposites united” design philosophy, along with a brand and logo refresh to coincide with the coming era of mass electrification.

It’s a chunky thing, with plenty of impact and while not pretty (what about that rear end?) it’s certainly purposeful. It seems to have lost the signature Kia grille shape and the strongest elements are uptick feature line from side sills to rear lights and the triangular C-pillar at the fastback style rear.

Kia design chief Karim Habib calls it a “compelling and relevant model for the new EV era” while providing a dedicated EV look to “define our future.” Expect plenty of EV6 design cues to filter through to the 11 new BEV models from Kia due by 2026 – seven of them built on this same E-GMP architecture.

The EV6 sits on a long 2,900mm wheelbase which Kia says delivers the interior space of a mid-size SUV, helped by a completely flat floor. This five-door with fold down rear seats should offer decent practicality. The boot is 520 litres rising to a maximum of a 1,300 litres, and the EV6 won’t shirk towing duties: a caravan, boat or trailer up to 1,600kg is possible as long as there’s 35 per cent battery charge.

The EV6 cabin fits seamlessly into the high-tech world of BEVs, with its twin curved 12-inch infotainment screens dominating the dashboard and suite of connectivity features and driver aids. You can also get an augmented reality head-up display system and a 14-speaker Meridian surround audio system. Drive mode options include a setting for maximum power recuperation for one-pedal driving to maximise range.

Prices, the full range and UK arrival are all yet to be confirmed, as are those tempting performance figures. Kia has long been ambitious, but this is its biggest step up yet, and definitely one to watch…