The Kia EV6 GT has landed for local tuning, from the Nürburgring to Canberra

- The new dynamic halo of Kia’s EV6 range has arrived in Australia for the final stages of local tuning
- Initial tuning of the EV6 GT performance model took place on and
around the Nürburgring
- Launching in Australia during Q4 2022

Kia Australia has shared behind the scenes images and details on another of its lauded local ride and handling activities. The latest model to be put through
the paces of Kia’s local tuning agenda is the highly anticipated performance variant of the EV6 range, the EV6 GT.

With its Australian launch fast approaching in Q4 2022, the new addition to the Kia EV6 range has been subjected to Kia Australia’s rigorous ride and handling program which in this instance, has been conducted in Germany and Australia.

For Kia Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, Damien Meredith, the program is an important contributing factor to the brand’s continuous growth in the Australian Market.

“Tuning our vehicles to suit Australian conditions is a crucial feature in the local model lineup and can be significantly credited to the growth in our overall sales,” he said.

“The Kia EV6 Air and GT-Line models introduced earlier this year, have already verified EV6 as the new halo for the Kia brand and have attracted an extraordinary level of interest.

“The challenge with the local tune of the GT variant is to go above and beyond what is already available in the very capable and award-winning EV6 GT-line.”

With international borders now open, the initial stages of tuning the EV6 GT commenced in Europe with a very smooth road biased and European tuned car. The Australian product and tuning team travelled to Germany and searched for ‘B grade’ roads replicating Australian roads, an essential element in transforming the vehicle into a GT capable of coping with rough, country roads.

Kia’s new dynamic halo however needed to retain track worthiness, which is where the famous Nürburgring came into play, providing validation the car was still competent in GT mode. No concerns there with lap after lap driven in a confident, grippy and stable EV6 GT.

The initial tuning in Germany locked in the hard parts including the hydraulic tune of the shock absorbers and the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS). The finishing touches have recently been conducted back home around Canberra and greater ACT area.

Kia Australia deems the result as a very worthy GT, appropriately positioned above the existing and award winning EV6 range, producing the most dynamically capable Kia product ever developed for Australia and suitably worthy of its new halo status.

General Manager of Product at Kia Australia, Roland Rivero, is always proud of the local tuning program but even more so than usual with the recent program conducted on the EV6 GT.

“Being given the opportunity to add a new dynamic halo to our range, it was important we developed an Australian tune and not simply adopt a spec from another market.

“The importance of our requirement for a localised and unique tune is supported by headquarters and allows Kia Australia one of only four Global Tuning Specs available for EV6 GT.

“Despite the hurdles that confronted us, from the lack of availability of a test mule in Namyang to the impracticalities of Covid-19 restrictions in Korea requiring 7-days isolation, we negotiated an unprecedented new process of initial tuning in Germany and then fine tuning in Australia.

“We are thankful for the support from HMETC (Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center) for allowing us to utilise their pre-production vehicle and their facilities in Nürburg,” he said.

Kia Australia’s Ride and Handling Engineer, Graeme Gambold, who has localised the ride of over 50 Kia models during the last 11 years, is enthusiastic about the EV6 GT’s dynamics and performance.

“We had a solid platform to work with and spent time in both Germany and locally, ensuring the GT can cope with our harsher conditions. Compliance on rough country roads and importantly grip on uneven surfaces which is more prevalent in Australia, has been addressed.

“At all times we were mindful of the existing EV6 range, which is already dynamically capable. The GT had to raise the bar substantially and is a testament to how far Kia has come from a vehicle dynamics and performance perspective.

“It is a confident GT which can be pushed hard, driven spiritedly, is forgiving on our roads and equally for the performance enthusiasts, a very capable GT on the track when flicked to GT mode.”

Further details on the EV6 GT’s local specifications and pricing will be announced closer to its launch in Q4 2022.