Porsche Launches Cayman GT4 ePerformance Race Car, Kia Announces PBV Plant in S. Korea

All electric Power for the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance, and Kia’s Purpose Built Vehicle plant shows investment on electric power.

If you watched in awe as Porsche unveiled the Mission R concept, then you’ll be delighted to know the Cayman you see here is developed from lessons learned during the creation of the Mission R. Sportscar365 notes the name of the car as the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance.

Power is plentiful. Up to 985 horsepower is on tap, and if cranked “down” to 605 horsepower, it can complete a full 30 minute driving stint. That’s the length of most track day run groups too. And with a charge time from 5% to 80% in just 15 minutes, you won’t miss the next session either.

As a performance car enthusiast myself, I see this kind of advanced tech as a good thing. And if anyone can prove the viability of electric performance to doubters, Porsche ranks at the top of that list.

KIA plans to be world leader in electric purpose built vehicles by 2030.

KIA want’s to step up to the plate when it comes to electric vehicles. Specifically, vans. Purpose Built Vehicles, or “PEV’s” are vehicles built to an owners specific needs. PEV’s could be an ambulance, contractor van, construction truck, refrigerated transport, or any other specified need. KIA sees that no one has yet stepped up to the plate to serve these customers.

But on May 18th, 2022, KIA announced their first dedicated PBV plant. It’ll be located in their existing plant in Hwaseong, S. Korea. Construction is expected to start in 2023 and the production plant should be operational by 2025.

All of this is part of KIA’s “S-plan” strategy. Their goal is to be a world leader in sustainable mobile technology.

KIA isn’t the first to jump in this segment. We reported about Volta Trucks, and their class-6 expansion into the US. However, KIA’s financial backing for this project is substantially larger, and they have already knocked cars like the EV6 out of the park in terms of design and exceeding expectations.

For KIA and many more, local delivery services will be the next big EV boom.

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Photos courtesy of Sportscar365, KIA