Kia’s high-performance EV or the gas-powered BMW M2? Which has more performance? What about handling? See the Kia EV6 GT face off against the BMW M2 in a quarter mile and handling test in Edmunds’ latest video.
With instant torque, driving an electric car can feel like a sports car. EV makers like Tesla, Lucid, and Rimac have shown EVs can outmuscle just about any gas-powered vehicle.
Now enter Kia – a brand known for lower-priced vehicles. Kia released the 576 hp EV6 GT in August, its fastest production vehicle yet.
The automaker touts the EV6 GT as a “new high-performance benchmark in the crossover segment.” With 576 hp and 546 lb-ft of instant torque, the EV6 GT can hit 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds.
Kia put the EV6 up against a Ferrari Roma and Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder RWD to prove its point. And it out-accelerated both of them.
The EV6 is powered by a dual-motor AWD system based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform. Its 77.4 kWh battery pack powers 160 kW front and 270 kW rear motors. Not only is the Kia EV6 incredibly fast, but it’s also more affordable than most premium sedans, starting at around $62,000.
2023 Kia EV6 GT (Source: Kia)
Kia EV6 takes on BMW M2 in performance and handling
Is Kia’s high-performance EV powerful enough to beat the sporty BMW M2? Edmunds put the gas-powered BMW M2 up against the Kia EV6 GT in its latest “U-Drag Race” video.
Kia EV6 GT vs BMW M2 in a performance and handling test (Source: Edmunds)
The race is designed to test the vehicle’s performance and handling abilities in a “there and back” type of drag race.
Edmunds put a 2023 Kia EV6 GT up against a 2023 BMW M2. Although the Kia is more powerful, it also weighs nearly 1,000 lbs more.
Powertrain
Power
0 to 60
Weight
Price
2023 Kia EV6 GT
Dual electric motor
576 hp, 545 lb-ft torque
3.4 s
4,793 lbs
$62,865
2023 BMW M2
Turbocharged 3.0L 8-speed
452 hp, 406 lb-ft torque
3.8 s
3,860 lbs
$66,945
2023 Kia EV6 GT vs 2023 BMW M2 specs
The U Drag Race consists of a quarter-mile sprint, followed by a 180 turn and another sprint back to the finish.
During the test, the vehicles were optimized for performance and handling. The BMW was put into “M2” mode while the EV6 was put into “GT” mode.
As you can see despite not having a launch control, the EV6 overpowers the M2. The testers put the vehicles up in a best of three race. To see who comes out on top watch the full video above.
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Tesla is trying to use a piece of property in Australia, near Adelaide, in order to build a battery factory and Tesla showroom. But it’s facing steep opposition from locals, most of whom cite dissatisfaction with Tesla CEO Elon Musk as their reason to oppose the project.
The plans center on Marion, a small city of population 4,101, a suburb of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.
Last month, a developer submitted plans to use a piece of land referred to as Chestnut Court Reserve, which has been inaccessible to the public since 2016 due to contamination concerns. Plans to develop the location would involve a requirement to clean up the contamination on the site.
They would also involve the cutting of several trees on the site, some of which have been deemed as “dead or ill health,” with a plan to plant trees at another site to make up for any removals.
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The developer said it would use this land to build a new fit-for-purpose factory facility that would be used by Tesla both as a showroom and service center for Tesla vehicles, and also a facility that could be used for “repurposing of Tesla batteries.”
The plan doesn’t go too deep into the specifics of how said repurposing would happen, but it could involve using Tesla vehicle batteries in Powerwalls, or in Tesla’s Powerpack grid storage projects, which are quite popular in South Australia, where they have helped to solve some of the region’s significant power stability problems.
The developer makes the case that Tesla already has a presence in the area in neighboring Tonsley, that Tesla’s mission (and the specific mission of a battery recycling center) supports the environmental goals of the community, and that the facility would create around 100 full-time jobs in the local community, including highly skilled jobs like battery researchers.
All in all, the developer thinks it would inject $56 million into the local community, quite a nice chunk of change for the small town.
And the city council also supports the plan, thinking that the job and economic benefits are worth it, particularly given that the land is not being used for anything else.
The plans were submitted, the residents were consulted, and now that all the chips are on the table… the residents aren’t having it.
Residents respond with a lot of language we shouldn’t say here
The local community gave significant pushback to this idea, with some ~95% of residents disapproving the plan. The city received 948 comments on the plan, which sounds like quite a lot for a city of 4,101 people. However, half of those comments came from outside the city’s area.
But among those comments from the immediate area of the development, only 11 comments favored the plans, with 121 opposing them (that’s 92% opposition).
Among the comments (quoted by The Guardian) come these gems, which wonderfully showcase the stereotypical Australian predilection for colorful language:
“Because Elon Musk is a [redacted] human being and a [redacted]!”
“Elon Musk and Tesla are a [redacted] on humanity”
“Elon Musk is a full blown [redacted]”
“Destroying trees to build a factory for a company owned by a [redacted] would be a vile choice”
“We should not support and put money in the pockets of a [redacted] who openly [redacted] salutes, is [redacted] human”
We’ll let you try to fill in some of those words, though we’re pretty sure what some of them are (and, honestly, while I somewhat understand the point of redacting profanity in public records, I’d say it is a little absurd to redact “nazi”).
The plans haven’t received their final vote yet, and the council still seems like it wants to convince the local community to go forward with them. But some residents suggest that the site could be better used by other companies, and that alternate uses could help to preserve that land and also avoid potential image concerns for the area as protests against Tesla continue globally.
Some other comments, perhaps wrongly, called the possible building “a noisy, ugly, planet-destroying temple to billionaires.”
While it’s disappointing to see a proposed recycling facility referred to thusly (although Tesla does have a questionable history when it comes to following local environmental rules), it’s just another sign of how Tesla CEO Elon Musk is drastically affecting the brand, and holding it back from its stated mission to advance sustainable transport.
Response shows once again that Musk is harming Tesla
The backlash, like Musk’s advocacy, has been global. Tesla sales are dropping in most regions, even as EV sales rise as a whole. Specifically in Australia, Tesla sales saw a big drop year-over-year. And this has applied to corporate customers too, with Tesla losing corporate sales as multiplecompanies have cited their distaste with the CEO.
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For years, Tesla has been the go-to EV recommendation for “normals” looking for a painless, low-effort experience from their first electric cars, but Elon Musk’s political antics are causing people to shop elsewhere. On today’s episode of Quick Charge, we’ll discuss some options … and how you might be able to pay for them!
Speaking of Tesla alternatives, the Ford F-150 Lightning is the electric truck sales king once again, while the E-Transit van is now selling for the same (or less) than the gas version and Ford Pro launches a new incentive consulting service to help you pay for them.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.
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The world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) maker is rapidly expanding overseas. After taking control of vehicle sales in Germany last year, BYD is about to do the same in another key overseas EV market.
BYD to take control of EV distribution in Australia
Last August, BYD reached an agreement with Heden Mobility Group to acquire Heden Electric, which was responsible for importing its vehicles and spare parts for sale in Germany.
The move gives BYD more control over pricing and other areas of distribution as it expands the brand overseas. By taking over control, the company can sell its vehicles directly to buyers. And, it can also set prices.
According to EVDirect, BYD’s official distributor in Australia, the company is preparing for a similar move in the region. Luke Todd, founder and chairman of EVDirect, said the takeover would help unlock BYD’s potential in Australia.
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Todd said the first phase was proving that the “BYD brand would thrive here,” and the next phase will make EV ownership “easier and more accessible than ever.”
BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV (Source: BYD)
Since launching its first vehicle, the Atto 3 SUV, in 2022, BYD has become one of the fastest-growing car brands in Australia.
BYD now offers a complete lineup of six vehicles, ranging from the low-cost Dolphin and Atto 3 to mid-size SUVs (Sealion 6 and 7), electric sedans (Seal), and even a pickup (Shark 6).
BYD Shark PHEV pickup truck launch in Australia (Source: BYD)
Earlier this year, the company introduced a new entry-level “Essentials” trim, slashing prices across its entire lineup.
According to TheDriven, BYD has three of the top 10 best-selling electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia as of April. The Sealion 7, launched in just February, placed fifth with 1,473 units sold, trailing the Tesla Model Y (3,394), Model 3 (2,266), MG4 (1,698), and Kia EV5 (1,509).
BYD Sealion 7 launch event in Australia (Source: BYD)
BYD’s Atto 3 took sixth (956) while the Seal (637) and Dolphin (431) placed ninth and 14th through the first four months of 2025, respectively.
Taking control of distribution is expected to help improve service for current BYD drivers and will likely boost EV adoption in Australia.
Electrek’s Take
BYD’s sales are surging in China and overseas. In April, BYD sold more electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe than Tesla for the first time. Now, it’s launching its best-selling and most affordable electric car, the Dolphin Surf (also known as the Seagull EV in China).
S&P Global Mobilityis calling for BYD to more than double its sales in Europe this year to around 186,000 units.
And clearly it’s not just Europe. BYD is quickly establishing its presence in major overseas markets, including Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and many others.
With local production coming online and new, custom-tailored vehicles launching, BYD is laying the groundwork to continue gaining global market share over the next few years as the industry shifts toward electric vehicles. And that’s not even scratching the surface, with BYD’s new battery and ultra-fast EV charging technology set to change the game.