Earlier this year, Kia unveiled the all-electric EV4 in both sedan and hatchback guises. Fast forward to late July, and the South Korean carmaker has dropped details about one of the EV4’s most grueling tests from its development: a torturous 6,200 miles (10,000 km) stint at the fabled Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany.

Kia has released several images of the EV4 being tested on European roads in hatchback guise, curiously still wrapped in camouflage even though the finished car was presented several months ago. Unfortunately, there’s no imagery of it on the ‘Ring. What we do know is that the 6,200-mile (10,000 km) test session at the circuit formed part of a 68,000-mile (110,000 km) European road durability test.

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

The Nurburgring test aimed to simulate 90-95 percent of its maximum performance output, and it underwent multiple hypercharging sessions between laps. By the end of the track test, as well as the on-road testing, the EV4’s battery returned a state-of-health reading of 95 percent. EV4s sold to the public will be guaranteed to retain at least 70 percent of their original capacity after 100,000 miles (160,000 km) or eight years of regular use.

“To provide our customers a reliable, everyday EV, we had to validate the EV4’s durability both in real-world and extreme environments,” the manager of durability development at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center, Stephan Hoferer said. “With the rigorous testing – from icy roads to racetracks, we’re confident the EV4 will deliver dependable performance well beyond everyday needs.”

All EV4s are based on a 400-volt architecture and will be available with a front-mounted 201 hp electric motor in all trims. In the US, the base model will come standard with a 58.3 kWh pack, while the flagship variant gets a 81.4 kWh unit.

Evidently, the EV4 is not the type of car that owners will be taking to the track. But, if the Korean brand that in the past few years goes from strength to strength wants to spice it up with a hot, GT-branded version, it certainly has the know-how to do so.

The 2026 Kia EV4 won’t arrive in the United States until early next year, but spy photographers have already caught a high-performance hatchback in Europe. It combines performance and practicality in a bid to battle rivals such as the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX.

The prototype is heavily disguised, but we can see a few telltale signs indicating this isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill model. The most notable are the neon yellow brake calipers, which have been a fixture on the EV6 GT and EV9 GT. They’re joined by two-tone wheels that could be unique to the model.

More: 2026 Kia EV4 Arrives To Take On The Tesla Model 3 And VW ID.3 

While the black disguise hides most of the design, we wouldn’t be surprised to find sportier bumpers and additional body color accents. The EV4 GT could also come equipped with a revamped interior featuring a sport steering wheel, special seats, and plenty of GT badging.

The standard EV4 rides on the E-GMP platform and offers a 58.3 or 81.4 kWh battery pack. They’re joined by a front-mounted motor producing a modest 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS). In sedan form, this should allow for ranges of 235 miles (378 km) and 330 miles (531 km).

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The EV4 GT will undoubtedly kick things up a notch, and we can expect it will have an 81.4 kWh battery that feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system. This could enable the car to have an output over 402 hp (300 kW / 408 PS), and some are speculating it could have up to 480 hp (358 kW / 487 PS).

Regardless of the final power figure, we can expect a sportier driving experience thanks to a retuned suspension. We also wouldn’t be surprised to find a virtual gear shift feature, which simulates shifts with engine sound effects, visuals, and a tactile sensation through motor torque adjustments.