The EV race might feel like it’s been afoot for a while, but it is only getting started. The technology is moving so fast now that more that not only are more automakers developing their own take on it but also they are progressing really quickly. The pickup truck segment is a clear example of this, with the Rivian R1T, the Tesla Cyber Truck, and others are in a mad dash to establish dominance over the field. Now, as Kia is rolling out its massive rebrand and massive new EV lineup, the new mysterious Kia EV might rival the amazing Porsche Taycan.

Will the new Kia EV really have what it takes to step up to the Porsche Taycan? 

Kia has been talking about its new plan to roll out 11 new models in the next five years for the last few months or so, and it seems it meant what it said. As seen on Gear Patrol, Kia is said to be announcing a new EV crossover currently codenamed “CV” on March 15th. This new crossover will be based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s new E-GMP EV platform. 

Kia’s new EV has some mouth-watering specs

The specs for this mysterious new EV are enough to make us do a double-take. Gear Patrol reports Kia will drop a teaser today (March 9th) for the reveal, set for next week. The “CV” name won’t stick with the car; it will likely fall into the “EV[1-9]” alphanumeric naming system. 

If this all seems a bit sudden, it kind of is, although Kia has been clear about its mission to transform the brand with a whole heap of new EVs. Apparently, during a Kia investor presentation back in December, the CV wasn’t supposed to drop until May of 2021. It would seem Kia is eager to get the public stoked about this model and pushed things forward. The plan was to show it at the 2021 LA Auto Show, but that has already been pushed back to November, most likely due to COVID Vaccination timelines.

Following the Tesla trend, Kia plans to do a plain version of the CV and a high-performance GT spec. This version is said to do 0-60 mpg in only 3.0 seconds. I know we have become accustomed to EVs being able to rip insane acceleration, but don’t forget this is in Lamborghini Huracan and McLaren 720S ballpark – from a Kia! More to the point, this puts the CV GT squarely in the Porsche Taycan lineup between the Porsche Taycan Turbo and the Taycan Turbo S. 

It’s not just blindingly fast…

The Kia’s 800-volt system will also be able to charge fast as hell. It will deliver up to 350kW, allegedly equating to 62 miles of range in only 4 minutes of charging. Although the total range seems to be around 275 miles or so, the CV should be able to get a full charge in around 20 minutes or so. I know this seems a bit vague and noncommittal, but we will just have to wait until we see the car and test it in the real world to confirm such figures. 

Kia competing with Porsche might feel strange, and maybe it is, but it might be happening either way. The Porsche Taycan Turbo starts at $150,000. The mysterious Kia EV will likely come in far under that number, making it a strong competitor indeed. The problem for Kia is that it just isn’t a Porsche. People dream of owning Porsche, and I would argue that many don’t actually care about the specs all that much. As of now, most people don’t think of Kia as a dream car make. But the Korean carmaker seems pretty deadset on changing the way it is viewed in the automotive world.