Kia’s 1st Ever Electric Car Can Cost Rs 60 Lakh: 100 Units Coming To India, Bookings Open From This Date

Kia is bringing its first EV in India, the EV6.

Looks

It looks futuristic, a far departure from anything Indian roads might have seen yet. 

It may resemble a large hatchback but it is rather big, comparable to mid-size SUVs like the Kia Sportage. 

It measures 4,695mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,550mm tall and sits on a 2,900mm wheelbase.

It will be brought in as a CBU (full import), which means that there will be no changes to its design, equipment, platform and powertrain.

Platform

The EV6 is based on Hyundai Motor Company’s e-GMP which stands for Electric Global Modular Platform platform and utilises Kia’s new ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy.

This is  Kia’s first car to use this platform which is specially made for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The platform is that of a skateboard with wheels placed on the corners and floor storing batteries.

Hyundai uses this for its IONIQ 5 which has also been spotted on Indian roads and will be launching in the coming months.

Interiors, Increased Leg Room

Being an EV-dedicated platform, it lacks a transmission tunnel.

This helps increase the space for the legs and knees for occupants sitting in the rear seat.

Inside, the EV gets a dual-screen layout – one for the digital dials and one for the infotainment system.

It also comes equipped with connected car tech, a new two-spoke steering, an augmented reality head-up display, and a number of ADAS safety features.

Charging Capabilities

It is one of the few EVs to support the ultra-fast 800V charging capability

With this, the car can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes whereas 100km of top-up charge takes just four and a half minutes.

58kWh Battery

In other countries, it runs on a 58kWh battery pack.

This pack will be offered in two configurations – a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup with 168 bhp, or in an all-wheel-drive layout with a dual-motor set-up that makes 235 bhp.

77.4 kWh Battery

There’s also a larger 77.4kWh battery pack that can be had with a: 

• 229hp single-motor set-up in RWD guise
• 325hp dual-motor set-up in AWD guise 
• Range topping, performance-focused GT guise that has a dual-motor AWD layout that puts out 585hp and 740Nm

The 77.4 kWh battery delivers 320 bhp and 605 Nm of peak torque.

India Edition

Kia promises a range of about 425 km on a single charge.

The carmaker will likely offer Indian buyers multiple powertrains and give them a wider choice in terms of range and performance.

Its top-spec GT-Line variant was spied in the country which indicates that this is the version that will retail here. 

Next Moves For India

After its launch, Kia Motors will introduce the new e-Niro.

This one will be locally assembled and a made-in-India mass-market EV. 

This is inline with the carmaker’s plan with Hyundai, to bring six new EVs in India by 2024.

Pricing, Competition

It costs roughly Rs 31 to 42 lakh in the US. 

As a full import to India, expect it to be priced upwards of Rs 60 lakh.

When it does arrive in India it will be only 100 units which are allocated for the first year since the company would want to gauge the market response.

Upon launch, it will rival the likes of MINI Cooper SE, Volvo XC40 Recharge, etc.

Kia will start accepting bookings from May 26 and the EV6 will hit the market in June.