Kia’s new EV6 electric flagship and Sportage PHEV have made their European debuts at the Munich Motor Show.

Kia’s new EV6 electric flagship and Sportage PHEV have made their European debuts at the Munich Motor Show

Centre stage is the new Sportage PHEV, part of the line-up for the first-ever European-specific Sportage alongside hybrid versions, as well as diesels and petrols. The Sportage PHEV features Kia’s new 180hp 1.6-litre T-GDI petrol engine, paired up with a 91hp electric motor, giving total output of 265hp. The motor is powered by a 13.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack.

The Sportage has been conceived from the start to ensure both PHEV and HEV models deliver the same practicality as the rest of the line-up and the packaging for the Sportage PHEV model has been carefully arranged to avoid impact on passenger and luggage space, with the battery placed centrally between the two axles under the body of the SUV.

UK information on product specification, pricing, line-up and on-sale date for the Sportage PHEV will be announced closer to launch.

Kia’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle – the EV6 flagship – has also made its European debut at Munich.

The EV6 is Kia’s first car to be based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s bespoke E-GMP platform and is the first of 11 new battery electric vehicles due under the ‘Plan S’ strategy revealed last year, of which seven will be built on the E-GMP architecture and four will be derivative EVs based on existing models.

The EV6 will be offered in a range of versions, including a 585hp performance model, and is Kia’s first electric vehicle to be available with two-wheel or all-wheel drive options. Range is up to 328 miles for the 2WD 77.4kWh EV6.

All versions of EV6 have both 800V and 400V charging capabilities, and the car is capable of a high-speed charge from 10-80% in 18 minutes. Additionally, an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) enables a new vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, capable of supplying up to 3.6kW of power to operate other electronic devices or charge another EV, if needed.

Equipment brings the latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, including next-generation Highway Driving Assist with lane change assist, Blind Spot View Monitor, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist including junction turning and crossing functionality, and the new Intelligent Front Lighting technology.

The EV6 is available to pre-order now in the UK and first deliveries start in October 2021.