Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle has returned in an even more perfected form.
Kia has announced that the contract for the new EV6, which has significantly enhanced its marketability, will begin on Tuesday, the 14th.
While massively enhancing the EV6’s market competitiveness, Kia has managed to freeze the prices across all trims.
The EV6, released in August 2021, is Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle model based on the electric vehicle platform E-GMP, boasting an eye-catching design and excellent electrification technology, recording over 210,000 sales globally.
After winning the ‘European Car of the Year’ in 2022 as the first Korean brand, it also won the ‘North American Car of the Year’ in 2023, proving its exceptional competitiveness in the global electric vehicle market.
The newly unveiled EV6 is a model that showcases product improvements after about three years, reflecting Kia’s new family look with a dynamic design and equipped with a 4th generation 84kWh battery, providing an impressive range of 494km on a single charge. (※Combined, long-range 2WD model, 19-inch, built-in camera not applied)
Additionally, it is equipped with advanced infotainment specifications based on SDV that enhance connectivity between the vehicle and users, along with a variety of user-preferred convenience features such as Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 and steering wheel grip detection using capacitive sensors, significantly boosting overall marketability.
The EV6 has evolved into a more dynamic yet sophisticated vehicle under the concept of ‘modern contrast.’
The front features Kia’s new family look with ‘Star Map Signature Lighting’ centered around the daytime running lights (DRL), giving a futuristic yet wide impression. The character lines on the hood connect seamlessly to the lower part of the vehicle with a wing-shaped bumper design that enhances dynamism.
The side showcases a modern contrast design concept, with newly designed wheels that present a refined and solid feel, creating a more sophisticated atmosphere.
The rear further enhances the futuristic feel with wide star map lighting applied to the rear combination lamp and unifies the dynamic design with the wing-shaped pattern of the rear bumper, mirroring the front.
The GT-Line model launched alongside features a sportier shape for both front and rear bumpers, additional front LED center positioning lights, and dedicated 20-inch wheels, differentiating its exterior design.
The EV6 offers a total of eight exterior colors, including a new color ▲Ivory Matte Silver, as well as ▲Snow White Pearl ▲Interstellar Gray ▲Aurora Black Pearl ▲Glacier ▲Moonscape Matte Gray ▲Yacht Blue ▲Runway Red.
The EV6 GT-Line model is available in five exterior colors, including the new colors ▲Wolf Gray ▲Yacht Matte Blue and also offers ▲Snow White Pearl ▲Aurora Black Pearl ▲Runway Red.
The interior of the EV6 has adopted new design elements based on the existing horizontal shaping, presenting a more luxurious and modern atmosphere.
Kia has incorporated a refined panoramic curved display in the EV6, providing a clean yet wide feeling and emphasizing the horizontal shaping of the interior with dynamic graphics of the new ambient light.
Additionally, a newly designed steering wheel that emphasizes sophistication has been applied, enhancing the sporty feel with a new pattern on the crash pad. A fingerprint authentication system has been added to the center console, and wireless charging pads have been improved to prevent smartphones from moving around, boosting user convenience.
The EV6 offers a total of four interior color options, including new colors like ▲Medium Gray ▲Green & Light Gray ▲Toffee Brown, while the GT-Line model features a distinctive Black & White color.
Kia has equipped the EV6 with a 4th generation 84kWh battery to increase the driving range on a single charge while enhancing ride comfort and quietness to provide an improved driving experience.
The EV6’s energy-dense 4th generation battery has increased the capacity from 77.4kWh to 84kWh, and based on the enhanced battery performance, the driving range on a single charge for the long-range 2WD model (19-inch, built-in camera not applied) has increased from 475km to 494km.
Furthermore, despite the increased battery capacity, the rapid charging speed has been enhanced, making it possible to charge up to 80% (from 10% to 80%) in under 18 minutes during 350kW rapid charging.
The EV6 has fine-tuned the previously applied ‘Frequency Responsive Shock Absorber’ to improve ride comfort on rough roads while optimizing motor noise control and expanding the soundproof area of the rear motor to enhance overall ride sensibility.
Additionally, body stiffness has been reinforced by increasing the thickness of the B-pillar and applying a 10-airbag system with additional side airbags for the second row to ensure excellent safety.
Kia has heavily loaded the EV6 with advanced infotainment specifications based on SDV that enhance connectivity between the vehicle and users, applying a variety of customer-preferred convenience features to considerably boost overall marketability.
The EV6 is equipped with the next-generation infotainment system ‘ccNC (connected car Navigation Cockpit)’ to provide a more convenient mobility experience.
It expands the range of wireless software updates (OTA) that were previously only possible via navigation, now applying them to the controller, allowing vehicle functions connected to the main electronic control to remain up to date.
Additionally, it features streaming services to enjoy video and high-quality music content, along with a natural language voice recognition functionality allowing for a conversational user experience, providing customers with a new SDV-based experience.
Other features include ▲Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with wireless connection ▲Walk Away Lock which automatically locks the vehicle when the driver has exited while carrying the key and moved away ▲e hi-pass (hi-pass) that allows toll payments without a physical device connected to Cafe Pay ▲Kia Digital Key 2 ▲fingerprint authentication system among various infotainment specifications.
Kia has also applied a variety of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that enhance driver convenience and numerous popular convenience features in the EV6.
The EV6 is equipped with ▲Steering Wheel Grip Detection (HoD, Hands on Detection) using capacitive sensors ▲Lane Keeping Assist 2 (LFA 2) ▲Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA 2) ▲Front/Side/Rear Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA-F/S/R) to assist drivers in safer and more convenient driving and parking.
Additionally, it features ▲Electric Tilt & Telescopic Steering Wheel ▲Air Conditioner Photocatalytic Sterilization System ▲12-inch Heads-Up Display (HUD) ▲Digital Center Mirror (DCM) ▲Built-in Cam 2 among other convenience specifications to significantly enhance user convenience.
Kia has secured excellent competitiveness by freezing the sale price of the EV6 while enhancing its product features to a new car level.
The sale prices before electric vehicle tax benefits are as follows for the long-range model: ▲Light 55.4 million KRW ▲Air 58.24 million KRW ▲Earth 62.52 million KRW ▲GT-Line 63.15 million KRW. (※Based on 2WD)
Following the completion of major government departments’ certifications, the EV6 is expected to be launched in June, and when the tax benefits are applied after completion of the registration of eco-friendly vehicles, the expected prices will be ▲Light 52.6 million KRW ▲Air 55.3 million KRW ▲Earth 59.35 million KRW ▲GT-Line 59.95 million KRW.
Considering government and local subsidies, customers are expected to purchase the vehicle at a more reasonable price.
Kia will also operate a dedicated purchase program called ‘Triple Zero’ in line with the launch of the EV6.
Triple Zero is a program designed to reduce three burdens associated with vehicle purchases, offered to individual or business customers who contract for the new EV6 and receive delivery by the end of the year.
It alleviates the burden of processing their existing vehicles by offering trade-in benefits and also reduces concerns about fluctuating market interest rates with special variable-rate installments. Furthermore, to lessen burdens concerning the residual value of used cars, it is expected that Kia will guarantee the EV6’s residual value to up to 60% when repurchasing Kia vehicles in the future. (※Details regarding the program can be found on the event page within kia.com)
A Kia official stated, “The EV6 plays a crucial role in Kia’s electric vehicle lineup as the flagship electric car of Kia. The New EV6 will once again play an important role in leading Kia in the electrification market with its differentiated design and enhanced product features.”
Meanwhile, starting from the 14th, Kia will conduct an advertisement campaign themed ‘The Most Energetic EV’ through TV and digital media, showcasing the EV6 utilizing the forces of nature, such as wind, gravity, and inertia.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr