• This model is Kia’s opportunity to show just how far the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP platform can take things.Las Vegas, NV - In the current automotive world, the hot keywords, as you surely know by now, are electric vehicles. And in the current electric-vehicle world, the hot keywords are… South Korea. In the Canadian market alone, the Genesis-Kia-Hyundai triumvirate – all part of the same automotive group - currently offers 12 electrified models.
The wheels have a unique design and at 21 inches, they’re the largest found on any Kia, including the Telluride SUV. They’re wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber and shroud lime green-coloured brake calipers which, in turn, clamp larger brake rotors. The front ones measure 15 inches, the rears 14.2, both up from 12.8 on other models.
The main difference in the GT has to do with the seats, which are specialized sports versions meant to grab occupants more firmly ‘round the hips and ribs. Which they do, but not uncomfortably so. They don’t dig into the outer thighs like seats of this variety so often do, even on the 120-mile test drive we undertook in the Las Vegas area.
Of course, while on the highway you can take advantage of the GT’s suite of driver aids, for instance lane centering, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, augmented-reality navigation and in-gauge blind-spot cameras.Being an EV, power is one thing but your range – and how best to make use or maintain it – is equally important.
Drift mode is a bit of a different animal in that you don’t access it by simply pressing a button. Sport mode must first be selected, the traction control switched off and both regen paddles pulled at the same time. It’s complicated. And note that in drift mode, up to 100 per cent of power can be sent rearwards, and the computers manipulate the eLSD so much that it really is reserved for track mode only.Photo: D.