The Kia EV6, in some ways, competes with each different midsize crossover on the market. There’s simply this one odd distinction — electrical energy — that separates it from the CR-Vs and Rav4s with which it shares its dimension, seating, and objective. That one change, although, makes all of the distinction on this planet.
Irrespective of how a lot its detractors whine, electrical energy makes automobiles fascinating. The unyielding surge of torque, the science-fiction sound of three-phase motors, it’s an entire new paradigm for even probably the most boring autos — one thing we by no means knew we have been lacking. It makes you marvel: What else have I been lacking for all these years?
Full Disclosure: Kia lent me an EV6 to drive over Memorial Day Weekend again in 2022, which I used to go to all of the outdated haunts of my childhood. I made a decision that the journey would make an ideal coming-out piece, which I then didn’t write for practically two years. Sorry, Kia.
A lot of my youth revolved round slightly city known as Fairfield, Connecticut, on the northern shore of the Lengthy Island Sound. I lived simply off that shore, throughout the road from the seaside, lengthy earlier than I began forming recollections. Fairfield is a moneyed city, nevertheless it’s humbler about it than many – it’s all outdated cash right here, stealth wealth residing in hundred-year-old properties.
On this land of Toyotas and Hondas, the laborious, sharp angles of a satin-gray Kia are an oddity. But, it doesn’t draw consideration befitting simply how out-of-place it’s – no glances, no seems, no glares. Perhaps it’s the quiet electrical drivetrain that flies below the radar. Perhaps the muted colour doesn’t draw the attention. Or, possibly, even Fairfield is aware of the long run is coming – it’s all the time been lurking below the floor, and pushing again towards it’s a futile effort.
Out of curiosity, I took the EV6 down that childhood seaside street — but, whereas driving and scanning the perimeters of the road, I by no means noticed my outdated home. Google Avenue View tells me it’s nonetheless there, I acknowledge it within the image, however in actual life the road has modified. Ever so slowly, it’s been constructed up, and the one icon I acknowledged — my outdated home — is now buried. In fact, I don’t look the identical now, both. I can level out issues I acknowledge in images from years in the past, however the face that holds these options has, ever so slowly, modified. I, alone, have modified it.
Searching for a spot to take images, I ended up close to the Aspetuck Reservoir in Easton, CT. Right here, greater than anyplace else, the steel-gray Kia attracts eyes. This space is vintage, outdated forests and roads sometimes dotted with an institution that appears prefer it dates again to roughly the Revolutionary Battle. Even the fuel station, in some way, has a colonial really feel.
The Aspetuck Reservoir was an icon via my whole childhood — it’s a must to cross it en path to the home the place my grandmother lived till her dying — but I by no means knew what it was known as till I wrote this story. I didn’t even understand it was in Easton; I’d all the time assumed it was but extra Fairfield. Because it seems, there are a variety of issues I didn’t know again then — questions I by no means even thought to ask till years later.
Whereas I lived in Fairfield early in my life, Newtown is the place I actually grew up. The little cul-de-sac I lived on as a child, the place proper within the middle of city that served as each dwelling and my dad and mom’ workplaces in highschool, the house above an workplace that my dad and mom moved into after I flew the nest after faculty. Newtown even served as dwelling base for my briefly-owned, ill-fated observe Miata, which ought to give longtime readers an impression of simply how way back Kia loaned me this automotive. Rumor has it, that Miata nonetheless haunts the streets of Newtown as its new proprietor’s every day driver.
Newtown, too, is all the time altering. Electrical autos are actually plentiful, with Mustang Mach-Es, Teslas, and even Rivians dotting the roads. As instances change, and the neighborhood round EVs grows ever stronger, electrification is turning into extra possible than ever. Of us who knew it was proper, however questioned if it was possible, can now have the form of assist wanted to make the leap — and, regardless of hate from lawmakers, even take pleasure in it.
The adjustments, although, run deeper than that. Fairfield Hills now hosts bar trivia, and the Normal Retailer takes on-line orders. Burgerittoville spans a whole constructing, pushing Cave Comics out into the parking zone, although the individual behind the counter, extremely, nonetheless acknowledges me — or, acknowledges an individual I was.
See, there’s one other change within the city of Newtown, at any time when I come via: There’s yet another trans individual within the inhabitants. Yet another lady who took her candy time figuring her shit out, and who lastly — after sitting on this Kia mortgage for practically two years — is letting of us learn about it.The EV transition, that led us to the EV6, has been messy. All of the missteps, the early learnings, have all been very public, as producers battle to determine all of it out whereas traders clamor for outcomes. Equally, my very own transition as a somewhat-public-facing individual has felt messy. I don’t have traders, positive, however I’ve each one in every of you readers in thoughts as I contemplate my presentation right here on Jalopnik. My hair and voice in movies, my mannerisms, the breadcrumbs I’ve left previously yr and a half of blogs (I’ll personally mail a sticker to whoever first digs up the primary reference to my title in a video, the primary time I wrote it in a weblog, and the paragraph I wrote in a bike publish that was only a thinly-disguised metaphor for popping out). I do know I’m no superstar, however there’s a good portion of my life that feels prefer it’s on the market for public consumption. It’s tougher to experiment, to strive issues out and see what sticks, when you already know that experimentation will all the time have eyes on it.
Nonetheless, one thing caught. One thing that feels slightly brighter, slightly bubblier, slightly extra prone to dance at any time when and wherever Dua Lipa is enjoying. It’d even be extra correct to say someone caught – somebody named Amber. Pleasure to fulfill you.
