The Ayala Corporation hopes to be at the forefront of the shift to electric vehicles with the much awaited launch of its first fully-electric passenger car, the EV6. Teased as early as the 2022 Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) last year, the battery electric vehicle is now finally on sale.
The vehicle was unveiled at Ayala’s prestigious Tower One along Ayala Avenue by Ayala Corp’s automotive subsidiary AC Motors, which is the official distributor of Kia cars in the Philippines.
Kia calls the EV6’s styling a “Digital Tiger Face” which adds some high-tech sophistication to the standard Tiger Face look of its other models. The sleek design cleverly hides its imposing size, occupying similar real estate to a Sorento three-row SUV but with the lower profile of a sedan. It straddles the line between luxury sedan and crossover. It may appear like a sporty coupe but actually has a ground clearance comparable to crossovers. It may roll on massive 20-inch wheels, but there’s also considerable rubber wrapped around it, to take on rough surfaces. Thanks to its large footprint, the EV6 is able to offer a truly spacious cabin. Its wheelbase of 2,900 mm is longer than the Sorento SUV and just a hair under the Carnival van.
Inside is a luxurious but understated interior that offers mounds of legroom. Kia has ensured its luxuries are also guilt-free via the use of vegan leather for the seats with center armrests and recycled PET for the EV's upholstery and trim panels.
The driver will enjoy the two curved 12.3-inch monitors. One serves as the digital instrument cluster while the other is the touchscreen infotainment system. These provide the vital range, battery usage, and trip information in customizable displays. The entertainment system has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and can connect via USB, and Bluetooth as standard. Audio is channeled through the 14-speaker Meridian sound system. Easily the greatest luxury it offers is its truly silent operation (both inside and out), thanks to a lack of an internal combustion engine.
Providing this silent propulsion is a 77.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that drives a rear-mounted electric motor. It delivers 229-PS and 350-Nm of torque the moment you step on the pedal. Its transmission has no gears, allowing it to accelerate quickly to 100 km/h in just seven seconds.
*Photo above shows Kia Philippines President, Manny Aligada handing over the keys to the first EV6 customer, Ayala Corp. President, Bong Consing.*
"We are very proud that we are launching an electric vehicle in the Philippines. It is consistent with everything we are trying to achieve in the area of climate change and sustainability. We believe Ayala's ecosystem is built to launch and distribute electric cars," said Bong Consing, Ayala Corporation President & CEO.
Those concerned about how far it can go can rest at ease as the EV6 can travel 528-km on a full charge. It’s compatible with all of the charging stations already deployed in all Ayala malls and offices. The EV6 also includes a portable charger with each purchase that’s compatible with any wall outlet.
Using just the portable charger, it can take overnight to charge a partially consumed battery up to 100%. The average daily commute (estimated to be between, 8-12-km) may use just around 10-20% of the battery a day. At this rate, it may take a fully-charged EV6 up to 2 weeks to use up its entire battery. To avoid any range anxiety, Kia simply recommends topping up the battery’s charge each day, as there are no negative effects on the battery.
Besides the electric propulsion, the EV6 also comes with the latest convenience and safety features like smart cruise control, blind spot detection, lane keep and follow assist, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, turn signal cameras, and a 360-degree around view monitor. Furthermore, it has front, side, and curtain airbags, plus a tire pressure monitoring system and ISOFIX child anchors.
The EV6 is available in five colors: Moonscape, Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, Yacht Blue, and Aurora Black Pearl. Every purchase of the Kia EV6 GT-Line is backed by a five-year, 160,000-km vehicle warranty, eight years or 160,000-km battery system warranty (whichever comes first), five years of free Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS) and five years free 24/7 roadside assistance. The EV6 GT-Line crossover is available in a single Long Range variant priced at P3.788 million. This price already includes the provisions of the recently signed Executive Order No. 12 for electric vehicles.
For a more detailed review of the EV6, read our experience of it HERE. To learn more about what driving a battery electric vehicle in general is like, read THIS ARTICLE. To find out all where all the charging stations are in the country, click HERE.