In March, Automotive Map reported on Kia’s brand-new EV6, the automaker’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle. During a flashy event held in Times Square last night, Kia officially debuted the vehicle, and announced that the EV6 marks the beginning of its Plan S strategy in the United States. The roadmap will bring 11 all-new, all-electric models to the brand’s lineup over the next five years.
If you’ve been waiting for an innovative new mass-market EV, get ready to make your reservation. In a first for the brand, the EV6 First Edition will be available by advanced reservation starting June 3 at Kia.com. Similar to the approach taken by several automakers with recent releases of desirable new models, Kia will limit the number of First Edition units to just 1,500 and will offer exclusive features for the configuration.
The loaded First Edition will be powered by a dual-motor all-wheel drive system and a 77.4 kWh battery, and will get an augmented reality head-up display, a 14-speaker Meridian stereo, 20-inch wheels, and a remote smart parking system.
Kia Reveal | Live from Times Square
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The E-GMP platform that the EV6 is built on can facilitate the development of sedans, CUVs, and SUVs. Similar to the skateboard platforms used by other brands, E-GMP will allow Kia to swap in various components and body styles without the need to redevelop the underlying architecture each time. The automaker says that the platform also offers the ability to expand wheelbase and track width for different vehicle applications.
That platform also underpins the new Hyundai Ioniq 5, an all-electric crossover that delivers similar power to the EV6 but with different interior and exterior design. Expect the similarly sized models to have different turning when they reach a dealership near you as the two companies, which share common Hyundai Motor Group ownership, work to make them individually appealingly their particular consumer base.
The head-up display in the Kia EV6 shows speed, safety, and navigation information.Photo courtesy of Kia Motors
Kia hasn’t divulged pricing or exact release date details yet, but we know that the first EV6 models will hit dealers’ lots in early 2022 across the U.S. The high-performance GT model is slated to land in late 2022.
