Kia EV6 GT 2023: release date and Australian specs revealed, drift mode confirmed

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Kia has released key Australian specifications of its flagship EV6 GT high-performance SUV which boasts active suspension and a full-fledged drift mode.

The highly-anticipated EV6 GT will sit at the top of the existing range when it goes on sale early next year and promises to bring much more than just a bump in power and torque.

And it certainly has plenty of output, some 430kW of power and 740Nm of torque is produced from the front and rear motors, which make 160kW and 270kW respectively.

That’s a notable step up from the 239kW/605Nm dual-motor EV6 GT-Line and provides an edge, on paper at least, over the inbound 413kW/660Nm Tesla Model Y Performance.

From a standing start, Kia says the EV6 GT can accelerate to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds – a figure Chasing Cars will seek to match in our independent testing – before topping out at 260km/h.

Adaptive suspension tuned to tackle Aussie roads

The EV6 GT will adopt what Kia calls its ‘semi-active suspension’ that adjusts on the fly according to factors such as speed, cornering and road surface conditions. 

Kia’s engineers say the system will work to minimise squatting and roll when braking, accelerating and turning, as well as aiding stability during high-speed lane changes.

The suspension, ESC tune and other aspects of the EV6 GT recently underwent localising tuning in and around Sydney and Canberra in an effort to make it better suited to our rough B-roads.

‘E-LSD’ unlocks Drift mode 

However, the star of the show is the inclusion of the new E-LSD that Kia Australia’s ride and handling engineer Graeme Gambold told Chasing Cars works not only by braking the rear wheels independently but also by varying the torque distribution across the rear axle.

Gambold said when placed in ‘Drift Mode’ the EV6 GT becomes “fundamentally rear-wheel-drive” but still remained easy to control.

“Given the balanced chassis, the responsiveness of the powertrain and linear delivery makes it relatively easy to keep the rear under control even once the rear wheels have started to spin,” he said. 

“A small lift combined with the regen braking recovers grip and sends some drive to the front wheels and the driver can maintain a neat slide around the corner with a fairly constant throttle, or add more throttle for a bigger slide or some doughnut action on a closed circuit.”

Aiding this control is the inclusion of additional body bracing to create a most rigid chassis, along with progressive steering that measures 2.3 turns lock-to-lock, compared to 2.67 for the standard EV6 grades.

Kia says it was forced to modify the front suspension of the EV6 to fit larger brakes, with four-piston calipers at the front clamping down on 380mm ventilated discs. 

The rears make use of 360mm solid rear discs with a single-piston setup, with all four corners wearing 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

Those brakes will likely come in handy to stop the EV6 GT’s yet-to-be-specified weight, which is likely to be similar to the GT-Line AWD at 2105kg (kerb) given that the pair both feature a large 77.4kWh battery.

Kia EV6 GT standard features

In addition to the performance features, the EV6 GT comes with a range of features found elsewhere in the EV6 line-up including a panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, vehicle-to-load capability, a heated synthetic-leather steering wheel and a power tailgate.

It also features dual 12.3-inch displays, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, a wireless phone charger, a head-up display, a remote parking function and ambient lighting.

Unique to the EV6 GT are bucket seats trimmed in a combination of synthetic leather and suede, front and rear seat heating, a GT mode button on the steering wheel, a sweeping LED indicator effect and a more aggressive body kit. 

Pricing is yet to be determined for the EV6 GT though the flagship performance car is expected to cost more than $100,000 when it goes on sale, making it by far the most expensive Kia ever sold in Australia.

Kia EV6 2023: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Air RWD: $72,590
• GT-Line RWD: $79,590
• GT-Line AWD: $87,590
• GT: TBC