The Kia EV4 made its debut at the New York International Auto Show back in April, touted as Kia’s straightest shot yet at the Tesla Model 3. It seemed poised to stir up the affordable EV segment, but that momentum has stalled before it even reached the showroom.

According to the Korean automaker, the EV4’s American launch has been postponed “until further notice,” a decision that leaves would-be buyers of reasonably priced EVs with one less option in an already tightening field.

Read: Kia’s First Electric Sedan Is Here To Beat The Model 3 At Its Own Game

Kia had engineered both sedan and hatchback versions of the EV4 for different markets. The United States was due to receive only the sedan, while Europe and several other regions would get both body styles.

What seemed like a straightforward rollout has since collided with market realities. The American car landscape looks markedly different from when the EV4 was unveiled in April, and even more so from when Kia first mapped out its export plans.

“Kia’s full range of vehicles offers meaningful value and inspiring performance to customers,” a Kia spokesman told InsideEVs. “However, as market conditions for EVs have changed, the release of the upcoming EV4 electric sedan will be delayed until further notice.”

What Could Have Been

The EV4 sedan had been set to land in local dealerships in the first quarter of 2026. Kia never got to the point of announcing local prices for it, but with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit now a thing of the past, the math likely stopped adding up.

Without that incentive, the EV4 would have faced a steep uphill battle against more established competitors.

As in other regions, the American-spec EV4, built on Kia’s E-GMP platform, would have come with a 58.3 kWh battery and a 201 hp motor powering the front wheels. That setup promises about 235 miles of range, or roughly 378 kilometers.

Above it sit the Wind and GT-Line models, both equipped with an 81.4 kWh pack capable of up to 330 miles (531 km) on a charge. These figures placed the EV4 squarely in Tesla’s neighborhood, at least, that was the plan before the pause.

Update: For American EV shoppers already feeling left out after Kia’s decision to delay the EV4’s US launch “indefinitely” over what it calls “changing market conditions,” a polite way of saying “no more federal tax credits,” this one might sting a little more.

More: Kia Suddenly Pulls Its Tesla Model 3 Rival Right Before US Launch

The EV4 GT hatchback, recently teased and pictured below, isn’t the only body style of the performance variant on the way. As new spy photos confirm, Kia is also developing an EV4 GT Fastback, which means yes, that one will slip through American fingers too.

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This sedan variant promises a roomier rear section than the hatch thanks to its more conventional silhouette, though the styling at the back is anything but conventional.

Despite the heavy camouflage, telltale signs point to this being the GT model. The chunky tires and the same tall alloy wheels from the GT hatchback are visible, and behind them, we see the neon green brake calipers. Inside, the bright green seatbelts and the matching ring around the steering wheel rim are additional giveaways.

Everything else applied to the EV4 GT Hatch carries over here as well, including the dual-motor powertrain rated at around 400 horsepower and the performance-tuned chassis.

There’s no official debut date yet, though the EV4 GT Fastback is likely to appear either alongside the hatch next year or shortly after. (by John Halas)

Original story on the EV4 GT Hatch continues below.

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Kia has quietly unveiled the EV4 GT, ahead of its market launch in 2026. The performance version of the electric hatchback was shown with a special camouflage wrap that does little to hide its exterior design.

The GT is expected to pack a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup and a round of targeted chassis upgrades. Together, these are designed to place the EV4 GT squarely in the path of both electric rivals such as the VW ID.3 GTX and long-standing combustion favorites like the Golf R.

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The company used the unveiling of its new GT Wrap as the pretext for a series of teasers. The livery blends glossy black with matte gray and streaks of neon green, described by Kia as a look meant to “evoke energy and speed.”

The same fragmented design theme will carry across all electric GT prototypes during the later development stages.

Sharper Exterior Details

Beneath the custom camouflage, the EV4 GT stays close in shape to the existing GT-Line trim, with only subtle differences. Up front, the performance flagship gains vertical slits in the lower bumper intake, lending a more assertive look.

From the side, diamond-cut alloy wheels hide neon-painted brake calipers, while the rear adopts a GT-specific diffuser with a central vertical LED light cluster. The setup recalls the facelifted EV6 GT crossover, suggesting a family resemblance.

Kia hasn’t released interior photos yet, though early glimpses reveal sportier bucket seats accented in neon.

What Drives It?

The real transformation will happen beneath the surface. Sources point to a dual-motor AWD powertrain producing roughly 400 horsepower, paired with simulated manual shifts and an artificial rev limiter to give drivers more engagement.

The energy source is expected to be the familiar 81.4 kWh battery pack from the long-range FWD variant.

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True to Kia’s GT philosophy, the EV4 GT will receive dedicated chassis tuning, including a stiffer suspension and a quicker steering ratio for more precise handling and livelier responses on winding roads.

Rivals of the Korean model will include the VW ID.3 GTX, Cupra Born VZ, and MG 4 X Power. It will indirectly compete with ICE-powered hot hatches like the VW Golf R and Toyota GR Corolla. Hyundai is also working on its own zero-emission hot hatch, the Ioniq 3 N.

Kia has also confirmed that every future GT model will be fully electric, marking the current K5 GT as the final performance model in the lineup to feature an internal combustion engine.