Kia has built up its high-performance GT sub-brand. The brand’s efforts thus far have mostly been electric, with cars like the 641-horsepower-packing EV6 GT and the upcoming EV9 GT. There is a 290-horsepower K5 GT. But if a replacement for the departed Stinger GT emerges, it will probably be all-electric. And Kia does not appear to have any forthcoming gas GT cars in the pipeline.
Why is Kia focusing on electric over internal combustion? Australian website CarSales spoke with Kia Australia’s head of product planning, Roland Rivero, who cited global emissions regulations as the reason for Kia’s focus on electric performance cars.
- Base Trim Engine
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Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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601 HP
- Base Trim Torque
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545 lb.-ft.
Kia Blames Emissions Regulations
Rivero noted that Kia and Hyundai, the latter with its N performance division, were focusing on “electrified product” due to global emissions regulations. “You’ve got to satisfy the global situation, and CO2 regulations are tightening all around the world,” Rivero told CarSales. “So, I can understand why R&D centers are still trying to dial up driving enjoyment responsibly.” Furthermore, Rivero does not believe that focusing on electric cars for performance is a downside.
“There’s no reason why an electrified product can’t give you a similar experience, albeit with some computer tech and whatnot.”
– Roland Rivero, head of product planning, Kia Australia
2026 Kia EV6 GT vs. EV6 GT-Line AWD
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Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD |
Kia EV6 GT w/Launch Mode |
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Horsepower |
320 hp |
641 hp |
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Torque |
446 lb-ft |
568 lb-ft |
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EPA Range |
270 mi |
231 mi |
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Starting Price |
$58,900 |
$63,800 |
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It May Make More Sense For Kia To Focus On Electric GT Cars
Kia has revolutionized its brand reputation over the past decade or so. But that success has not been universal. Kia has thrived in segments where there isn’t strong brand loyalty. The breakout Telluride crossover became known as the “Sell-uride” internally because the affordable, three-row midsize crossover was a relatively new segment where buyers didn’t have established brand loyalties. The Telluride delivered style, practicality, and value. Buyers didn’t care that it was a Kia.
Sports cars and sedans are the exact opposite of the three-row crossover situation. It’s a smaller market. Buyers are very concerned about what badge the vehicle has. And the Kia badge does not resonate in that segment. The Stinger earned similar critical acclaim to the Telluride, being a cut-price Porsche Panamera. It was a narrow vote away from beating the Honda Accord for North American Car of the Year in 2018. But despite offering a similar style and value combination with the Stinger GT model, buyers were not interested, to the point that Kia dropped it from production. Hyundai had a similar experience with the Veloster N.
EVs Are Where Kia’s Opportunity Is
EVs are a strong point for Kia and other Hyundai brands. Their EVs look more polished and have better tech than competitors (four World Car of the Year Awards in a row for Hyundai/Kia). Providing electric cars with a sporty, engaging driving character has been a challenge for every automaker. And if Kia can resolve that conundrum, there’s more opportunity for a GT sub-brand to gain traction there than trying to fight brands like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Porsche in the combustion sports sedan realm.
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Source: Carsales
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