Hyundai Motor Group is reportedly looking at developing a new Kia electric vehicle (EV) that could become a new performance halo for the brand and indirectly replace the Stinger.
As reported by Korean publication ETNews, this new Kia electric car is being internally referred to as GT1 and will be released between late 2025 and early 2026.
Specifications published by ETNews show the Kia GT1 prototype will reportedly be based on the upcoming Hyundai Motor Group eM platform, which is an evolution of the existing e-GMP architecture.
It will also reportedly be an E-segment passenger car (think Mercedes-Benz E-Class), which is slightly larger than the outgoing Stinger liftback which is a D-segment passenger car.
The Kia GT1 will reportedly be powered by a 200kW front- and 250kW rear electric motors for a total system output of 450kW of power. This is 20kW more powerful than the current EV6 GT flagship.
These electric motors in the GT1 will reportedly be powered by a humongous 113.2kWh battery pack. Kia claims the GT1 will have an estimated range between 700km and 800km.
As previously reported, the vehicles on the Hyundai Motor Group eM platform will be introduced from 2025 “across all segments”.
eM-based EVs are claimed to provide a 50 per cent improvement in driving range on a single charge compared to current EVs.
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EV6 GT
The eM platform is also being developed to support Level 3 or higher autonomous driving technology.
Kia recently confirmed the Stinger’s demise in December last year, indicating it would cease production sometime this year.
Kia Australia chief operating officer Dennis Piccoli recently told CarExpert there are around 150 examples of the Stinger left to be delivered in Australia. All shipments of the liftback have arrived, and all examples have names next to them.
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Stinger Tribute Edition
The domestic market, along with select global markets, scored a Tribute Edition to see out the Stinger’s final months, with 1000 units produced in a unique specification.
Once production ends later this year, the Stinger will pass the performance halo baton over to the all-electric EV6 GT crossover.
Capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 260km/h, the EV6 GT pumps out performance numbers within reach of something like an Audi RS6 Avant – which is more than twice the Kia’s $99,590 asking price.
