We have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the highly-anticipated Kia EV6 will be launched in India this June. The bad news, however, is that only 100 models will be introduced initially, and they will be bought here via the CBU route.
With bookings set to open on May 26th, the Kia EV6 will be based on the carmaker’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and will be available in the GT Line and a more enthusiast-focused GT version.
Design-wise, the EV6 sports an aggressive look but with a smoother front bumper in place of Kia’s traditional tiger nose grille. Above that sits a pair of sleek LED headlights with sequential DRLs. The roof features a sloping design that gives the car a sporty silhouette. At the back, an LED strip covers the entire width of the boot. There’s also a slight haunch at the rear, which we think looks neat.
Check out the cabin, and what you’ll notice first is the twin-screen setup consisting of the infotainment system and the digital driver’s display. Kia has opted for muted interiors, with seats covered in recycled plastic.
The Kia EV6’s features list is pretty packed. It gets Level 3 autonomous driving assistance, along with lane assist, safe exit assist, highway driving assist and even a remote parking assist.
Under the hood, Kia will offer the India-bound EV6 in two different battery packs: a 77.4kWh long-range option and a smaller 58kWh one. However, it’s only the GT Line variant that will get both options. With fast charging, Kia claims the batteries can be topped up from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.
Right, the numbers! The Kia EV6 will be available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive. The former will make 229hp and 350Nm of torque, with a range of 510km. While the latter will make 325hp and 605Nm of torque. The AWD seems to be no slouch either, with a claimed 0-100kph speed of 5.2 seconds (RWD takes 6.2 seconds).
Considering it’ll come to India via the CBU route, the Kia EV6 will not be an affordable offering. If we were to guess, the South Korean company may slap a price tag of around Rs 65 lakh to Rs 70 lakh for the EV. Once launched, the Kia EV6 will go up against the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the Hyundai iONIQ 5.
(Image credits: Kia Motors)
