Kia has finally taken the wraps off its long-awaited flagship SUV, the EV9, which was showcased earlier this year at India’s January 2023 Auto Expo. The SUV appears to retain similar design elements to the concept car. However, the production-spec model has received minor changes. The three-row flagship SUV is packed with a host of technologies and features. In addition, the EV9 is expected to play a key role in the automaker’s goal of achieving annual sales of 1.2 million pure electric vehicles by 2030.
Kia is betting big on the EV9. Kia CEO Song Ho-sung said the South Korean auto giant is considering the EV9 as its new flagship in a number of ways. While the Kia EV6 played an important role in repositioning the Kia brand after its launch in 2021, the Kia EV9 will take the automaker even further, he said. As the brand’s flagship SUV, the Kia EV9 packs a wide range of technology and features. Here are the salient features and technologies of the all-electric Kia EV9 SUV.
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Kia EV9: Lighting
The Kia EV9 is equipped with a unique lighting technology known as Digital Tiger Face. The car features a new lighting scheme on the front grille. Adjacent to the twin vertical LED headlamps are twin clusters of small cube lights that create animated lighting patterns. Kia claims EV9 owners will be able to change the design of the digital tiger face.
Kia EV9: Platform
The Kia EV9 is powered by the motor company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which is shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5. With a wheelbase of 122 inches and an overall length of 197 inches, the EV9 is on par with other large SUVs on the market. The specs are similar to those of the combustion-engine-powered Kia Telluride.
Kia EV9: Cabin Features
The most exciting feature of the Kia EV9’s cabin is the curved digital screen that extends from the driver’s seat to the center point. Beyond that, the EV, offered in seven- and six-passenger options, comes with a variety of second-row seating arrangements. A unique feature is the second-row seats with swivel seats that can be swiveled 180 degrees. This option is available when EV charging.
Kia EV9: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
The Kia EV9 GT-Line is equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This allows for unsupervised, hands-free driving on the highway. Equipped with highway driving pilots, the ADAS system offers so-called Level 3 autonomy, which theoretically allows the driver to drive hands-free. ADAS relies on 15 sensors, including two lidars, radars and cameras, to provide a 360-degree field of view.
Kia EV9: Powertrain
The Kia EV9 has an estimated range of 541 kilometers on a single charge. It has a 150 kW electric motor that enables the EV to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 9.4 seconds. The standard RWD version of the EV9 is equipped with a more powerful 160 kW electric motor, allowing the car to accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 8.2 seconds, slightly faster than the RWD Long Range version. The Kia EV9 has an 800-volt electrical architecture that enables the EV to charge at super-fast speeds. Kia claims the EV9 can travel 239 kilometers on a 15-minute charge.
First published date: March 31, 2023 at 11:56 AM CST
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