The EV6 GT’s launch control system is nothing short of wizardry. In controlled tests, engineers at Autoevolution primed the EV6 GT for maximum grip, locked its launch control in place, and let the dual motors do their thing; the result was an 11.4-second quarter-mile that left the V12 Ferrari’s 11.5-second best in the dust [2]. Now, 0.1 seconds might sound trivial, but when you’re dealing with machines worth five- and six-figure sums, that hair’s-breadth victory feels monumental. You realize, almost in disbelief, that electric torque isn’t just for eco-commutes—it can flat-out embarrass one of the most celebrated internal-combustion hyper-SUVs on the planet.

Of course, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. The Ferrari’s V12 thunders back to life once it’s rolling, its high-revving powerband carrying it past the EV6 GT once speeds climb. But that momentary reversal—when electric acceleration rivals the guttural bellow of twelve cylinders—is worth savoring. It raises questions about what performance will look like in the next decade: will we look back at internal combustion as we do at horses now, romanticizing the buck and whinny even as we prefer the consistency and punch of electric motors? There’s a bittersweet thrill in watching motorsport tradition clash with emerging tech, and it feels like standing at the edge of something seismic.

So, can a Kia beat a V12 Ferrari? Under the right lights, yes, it can. But it’s a fleeting triumph, one that emphasizes how—and where—electric power excels. In dead-stop sprints, where the game is purely about immediate torque, EVs like the EV6 GT have rewritten the rules. Beyond that, the Ferrari’s legacy of mechanical artistry, its orchestral V12 soundtrack, and the visceral feedback of pistons dancing at 8,000 rpm remind us why combustion engines will never fully vanish from our hearts. It’s an electric upset that feels like a glorious glitch in the matrix of automotive history.

Performance Comparison: Ferrari Purosangue vs. Kia EV6 GT

Breaking down the raw specifications feels almost clinical after the drama of the launch. On paper, the Ferrari Purosangue boasts a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine, delivering a monstrous 725 horsepower and 716 Nm of torque, tipping the scales at around 2,150 kg. All this pays at the window for roughly £313,000 [2]. The Kia EV6 GT, by contrast, uses dual electric motors to produce 641 horsepower and an even heftier 770 Nm of torque, weighing in close enough at 2,200 kg but priced at about £60,000—less than a fifth of the Ferrari’s ticket price.

That pricing disparity alone tells a fascinating story: you’re comparing a mass-market manufacturer’s halo-performance EV to a custom-built super-SUV from Maranello. Yet the specs reveal why the EV6 GT nips at the Purosangue’s heels in a drag-strip shootout. The EV6 GT’s instant torque means there’s no wait for turbo spools or rev-hungry V12 transitions; hit the throttle and you’re punching through the acceleration curve from zero. Meanwhile, the Ferrari, despite its exotic status, must claw through revs and traction thresholds before unleashing its full fury—beautiful, yes, but just slightly slower on that first sprint [1].

Yet there’s more nuance once you step off the stopwatch. The Purosangue’s V12 sings with an emotional intensity that simply can’t be synthesized—at least, not yet. Every shift, breath and exhaust note builds a visceral connection between driver and machine, a symphony that’s part technology and part art. Meanwhile, the EV6 GT offers instant, unrelenting push, a more clinical but insanely addictive rush that can leave you slightly disoriented—like you’re strapped to a crossbow bolt as it fires.

Interestingly, that dichotomy mirrors a larger conversation about the future of performance. If you crave sensory overload and mechanical poetry, the Ferrari remains unmatched. If you want unfiltered thrust and technical efficiency, electric machines are already superior. And if you just want jaw-dropping performance for a practical price, the EV6 GT makes a compelling case. It even hints at what mainstream EVs might achieve in the coming years—a future where six-figure price tags aren’t the only gateway to hypercar-grade acceleration our Kia EV3 review.

Drag Race Showdown

Here’s where things get cinematic. On the line, you can sense the anticipation in the revving Ferrari’s crackle and the EV6 GT’s eerie hum. Both cars share a near-identical weight—around 2,150 to 2,200 kg—and yet they approach their power in fundamentally different ways. With the lights counting down, the Ferrari driver holds the revs at a sweet spot just below redline; the Kia driver simply plants the foot on the accelerator, trusting its electric drivetrain to handle the rest.

When the last amber light fades and green floods the strip, it’s a clash of philosophies. The Kia rockets forward as if yanked by an invisible tether, its tires spinning in blissful adhesion until launch control settles them. The Ferrari lunges in a furious howl, its pistons pumping and valves snapping open, but it takes those critical milliseconds to ramp up. On more than one occasion, the EV6 GT has clocked an 11.4-second quarter-mile to the Purosangue’s 11.5 seconds—so close it feels like a photographic tie [1][2]. Visitors to that scene often describe an electric “boom” that’s quieter than a V12 scream but no less shocking.

Yet let’s be real: once the run extends beyond that quarter-mile, the Ferrari’s broader powerband and higher top speed begin to matter. In rolling races or top-end sprints, the Purosangue pulls away, its V12’s crescendo carrying it past 180 mph with an intoxicating soundtrack. For a moment, you realize the drag strip only tells part of the story—one of raw instant thrust rather than sustained velocity.

Still, that drag strip upset reverberates across automotive circles because it challenges our assumptions. The idea that a comparatively affordable electric crossover can out-accelerate a six-figure super-SUV on a pure launch is as thrilling as it is symbolic. It hints that, in the world of performance, the gap between electric and combustion is not just closing—it’s already closed in certain arenas.

Caveats And Limitations

All that said, it’s essential to recognize this isn’t a universal triumph for EVs. The EV6 GT’s advantage hinges on perfect conditions: a cold track, sticky tires, and a flawless launch control sequence. Disable that system—or give the Ferrari even a tenth-of-a-second head start—and the V12 roars back ahead almost instantly [2]. Put both cars in a rolling drag, and the Purosangue’s high-revving engine and expansive torque curve let it stretch its legs, leaving the EV6 GT’s instant surge behind as speeds climb beyond 70 mph.

Weight also proves a factor. At roughly 2,200 kg, the EV6 GT is heavy for an EV, and while the suspension tuning is superb, it simply can’t match the Ferrari’s chassis agility or carbon-ceramic brakes under extreme deceleration. In real-world scenarios—mountain passes, track days, or even spirited back-road runs—the Ferrari flexes a level of dynamic refinement that transcends a stopwatch. That mechanical connection and balanced feel remain every bit as important as raw acceleration.

Then there’s emotional appeal. Listening to a V12 unfurl from idle to redline can be life-affirming; it’s a visceral thrill that few electric cars can replicate beyond artificial speakers pumping fake engine noise. For some drivers, that authenticity is priceless—it’s part of the allure that draws collectors and enthusiasts to combustion machines. EVs like the EV6 GT may offer a surge of adrenaline, but they lack that organic roar and mechanical complexity.

Price is another curveball. Yes, the EV6 GT retails for around £60,000, a fraction of the Ferrari’s six-figure sticker. Yet if you’re shopping in that bracket purely for performance, you could argue that spending more on a Ferrari—or another exotic—delivers a richer overall package: higher top speed, track-focused handling, bespoke craftsmanship, and that enviable badge appeal. Meanwhile, the EV6 GT’s broader ownership experience—charging logistics, range considerations, battery degradation—introduces different kinds of cost and complexity like the practical challenges faced by other affordable EVs.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Kia EV6 GT’s quarter-mile upset of a V12 Ferrari stands as a landmark moment, showcasing how electric torque can upend established hierarchies in pure straight-line acceleration. The EV6 GT’s 11.4-second blast off the line versus the Ferrari Purosangue’s 11.5 seconds highlights the potential of mainstream EVs to deliver hypercar-level punch without hypercar-level cost [3]. It’s a statement that performance budgets no longer strictly map to piston count.

Yet beyond the stopwatch lies a deeper truth: combustion engines still resonate with an emotional resonance that electric drivetrains haven’t fully matched. The Ferrari’s V12 offers a tapestry of sound, mechanical feedback, and storied heritage that keeps enthusiasts enthralled, even as they marvel at the instant fury of electric acceleration. In that sense, this isn’t a definitive passing of the torch but rather a vivid illustration of how both technologies can coexist—each excelling in different chapters of the high-performance narrative as the rise of electric performance crossovers continues to unfold.

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