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Kia is quick to prove that Tesla isn’t the only mainstream brand capable of delivering exciting electric vehicles.
After impressing with the EV6 2023 compact crossover, Kia is launching the EV9 2024 three-row SUV as a follow-up. Kia gave the first look at the EV9 in mid-March, and on Tuesday the automaker confirmed the specifications.
Kia isn’t shy about calling the EV9 its new flagship, and that’s not only because the SUV will be one of the most expensive models in Kia’s lineup, but also because it helps define the automaker’s focus going forward: electric mobility, cutting-edge technology and sustainable materials.
The EV9 is based on Hyundai Motor Group’s flexible E-GMP platform, which is also found in the EV6. The custom EV platform features an 800-volt electric architecture capable of bi-directional charging, vehicle-to-grid functionality, and high-speed charging that’s claimed to add nearly 150 miles of range in 15 minutes.
2024 Be EV9
Depending on the market, the EV9 will be offered as standard with a 76.1 kWh battery and rear-wheel drive. On top of this will be a 99.8-kwh battery which will be available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The highest range is with a 99.8-kwh battery and rear-wheel drive, a figure Kia estimates is around 300 miles when measured by the EPA.
An EV9 with a 76.1-kwh battery and rear-wheel drive will have around 214 hp from a single motor at the rear. Adding a 99.8-kwh battery brings the rear-wheel drive EV9 down to 201 hp. The 99.8-kwh battery and all-wheel drive will have a dual-motor system that’s good for around 380 hp, or enough for 0-62 mph acceleration in six seconds. For more performance, the Boost feature which will be available for purchase through Kia’s own Kia Connect Store app store will add extra torque to help produce acceleration from 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds.
Another option from the app store is a light pattern for digital light panels that replace the traditional grille on the front of the vehicle, a feature first featured on the EV9 concept from 2021. The light panels will be offered on the GT-premium Value line.
The technology doesn’t end there. Kia also plans to offer an automated driver assistance feature that will rank Level 3 on the SAE self-driving ability scale. That means the system will be able to provide hands-off, eyes-off capability under certain conditions. Kia hasn’t provided full details on the system but says it will only work in some parts of the world. Called Highway Driving Pilot, the system will rely on 15 sensors, including two lidars. Kia will initially offer the system in the GT-Line class.
2024 Be EV9
The EV9 measures about 197 inches, which makes it roughly the same size as the Kia Telluride, another mid-size three-row SUV. However, the advantages of packing the EV platform mean that the EV9’s 122-inch wheelbase is almost eight inches longer than the Telluride’s wheelbase, resulting in more interior space.
The EV9 will be offered with seating for six or seven with second row bench seats or captain seats available. The captain’s seat can be rotated 180 degrees to make it easier for second row passengers to interact with those sitting in the third row. The first and second row seats recline so passengers can relax while charging the EV9. The second and third rows fold flat to create an enormous cargo space, but no measurements are available yet.
At the front, the dashboard features a 5.0-inch display flanked by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen, all housed under a single pane of glass. Some hard keys are retained, but most of the functionality seems to be relegated to the screen, which is augmented by touch-sensitive keys. Premium options include massage chairs, a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and ambient lighting. Kia says it also uses sustainable materials in the cabin, including materials derived from corn, sugarcane, natural oils and recycled PET bottles.
Kia says the EV9 will start sales in select markets in the second half of this year. The exact timing for the US should be announced following the SUV’s local debut slated for next week’s New York 2023 auto show.
2024 Be EV9
Kia is also withholding pricing information, though officials have hinted the EV9 and Telluride will share a similar price gap to the Niro EV and Niro hybrid, or the EV6 and Sportage. That will likely give the EV9 a $15,000 price difference between it and the Telluride, putting the EV9’s starting price somewhere in the $50,000 bracket.
Kia is planning more EVs in its quest to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. The automaker has confirmed it will have 14 EVs in its lineup by 2027 as soon as, including a pickup truck that will be built in the US.
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