Check out Kia’s upgraded EV6 GT with 650 hp, starting at just over $50,000 in Korea
The most powerful car Kia has ever made just got even better. Kia upgraded the EV6 GT, its electric sports car, giving it a stylish facelift and even more power. And it’s still one of the most affordable sports cars (gas or EV) you can get your hands on. The new EV6 GT launched in Korea on Tuesday, starting at just over $50,000.
Kia launches the upgraded EV6 GT in Korea
After revealing the EV6 GT in 2022, the company proclaimed it was the “Most powerful Kia production vehicle ever.”
Boasting 576 hp, the electric sports car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Kia put the EV6 GT up against Ferrari Roma and Lamborghini Huracan Evo to prove its prowess, beating both off the line.
Two years later, the electric sports car is already due for a refresh. Kia launched the new EV6 GT in Korea on Tuesday, starting at just over $50,000 (72.2 million won).
With improved front and rear electric motors, the upgraded Kia EV6 GT now packs up to 650 hp (478 kW) and 770 Nm torque when the launch control is active. Without it, the EV sports car still has a whopping 609 hp (448 kW) and 740 Nm max torque.
A Kia official said the upgraded model “will become a new standard that will change the paradigm of high-performance electric vehicles.”
The new standard for electric sports cars
The added power is good for a 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/hr) acceleration in 3.5 seconds. With Kia’s 4th-gen bigger (84 kWh) battery pack, the new EV6 GT has a driving range of up to 220 miles (355 km).
It also gains faster charging speeds. The new EV6 GT can fast charge (10% to 80%) in under 18 minutes with a 350 kW charger.
The electric sports car gains more control and stability with an electronically controlled suspension (ECS) and electronic limited-slip differential (e-LSD) included as standard.
Kia improved the interior with its latest convenience and infotainment features. It also added an 8-way power function to its exclusive EV6 GT sports bucket seats. The new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens is at the center.
Despite the improvements, Kia said it’s “freezing its sales price.” With incentives, the new EV6 GT starts at just over $50,00 (72.2 million won) in Korea.
In comparison, the Ferrari Roma starts at about $245,000, while a Lamborghini Huracan Evo will run you around $215,000. Even the 2025 Porsche Taycan GT Turbo has a starting price tag of $230,000. At $50,000, Kia’s new electric sports car is a steal.
For those in the US, don’t worry. Kia America introduced the updated EV6 last week at the LA Auto Show. The new model features a bigger battery, faster charging, and an NACS charging port to access Tesla Superchargers.
Thanks to a larger 84 kWh battery, the new EV6’s range is up to 319 miles. The GT model gets a slight performance upgrade, with 601 hp, 25 hp more than the previous model. Prices will be announced closer to launch, which is scheduled for the first half of 2025.
With the 2025 model arriving, Kia is offering massive discounts, with current models available to lease starting at just $159 per month. You can use our link to view offers on the 2024 Kia EV6 near you while models are still in stock.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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