Kia’s three-row EV9 crossover guarantees to deliver the same mixture of utility and elegance to the North American electrical automobile market, the automaker stated.
The EV9, introduced Wednesday on the New York auto present, is the flagship mannequin for Kia’s international transition to EV know-how, in keeping with the model, and follows the 2022 North American launch of the two-row EV6 crossover.
“The EV9 is a reputable, high-value SUV that encapsulates our strategy to bringing modern, consumer-focused merchandise to market with a severe dedication to electrification,” Sean Yoon, CEO of Kia North America, stated in a press launch.
Kia stated the massive EV provides “premium lodging rivaing ultra-luxury SUVs,” with a dual-display cockpit that features a number of digital camera feeds for tech-hungry patrons. The EV9 will are available in six-seat and seven-seat configurations.
Just like the gasoline-powered three-row Telluride that launched in 2019 to important acclaim and booming gross sales, the EV9 provides utility automobile options comparable to important towing functionality with luxurious touches comparable to accessible second-row power-adjustable seats with leg extensions, heating and air flow, Kia stated. The EV9 has related dimensions to the Telluride, together with practically eight inches (20.3 centimetres) of floor clearance.
The EV9 is scheduled to launch in Canada in “late 2023” with imported automobiles from South Korea.
“It’s anticipated to be assembled in West Level, Ga. starting in 2024, making it the primary Kia EV to be assembled domestically,” the automaker stated.
One benefit of native meeting is that the EV9 may very well be eligible for the U.S. federal EV tax incentive of as much as US$7,500.
Underneath final 12 months’s U.S. Inflation Discount Act, solely automobiles made in North America that additionally meet battery sourcing necessities are eligible for the inducement. There’s additionally a value cap of US$80,000 for crossovers. Kia didn’t announce U.S. or Canadian pricing for the EV9.
“We proceed to check the entire elements of the IRA because it associated to the federal tax credit score and are wanting ahead to manufacturing of the EV9 at our plant in West Level,” a Kia spokesperson instructed sibling publication Automotive Information.
The Telluride marked an necessary shift for Kia into the massive crossover market, providing a high-quality inside, enticing styling and stable efficiency at an inexpensive value. The 2023 base mannequin in Canada begins at C$52,883, embrace delivery, in keeping with the automaker’s Canadian web site.
The EV9 is more likely to carry a better sticker value than the Telluride for the reason that two-row EV6 begins at C$50,083, with delivery, in Canada. Electrical automobiles typically carry larger costs as producers spend billions of {dollars} on new applied sciences.
“Developed on the confirmed E-GMP structure devoted to electrical automobiles with fourth-generation battery know-how, the EV9 enhances area with seating for as much as seven passengers, with an extended wheelbase and flat flooring that present each flexibility and luxury for all,” Kia stated.
The EV9 additionally shares the boxy design of the Telluride.
“The EV9 emphasizes the strain of its quick overhangs and lengthy wheelbase,” Kia stated, with the wheels pushed to the corners of the skateboard platform carrying the battery. Slim taillights draw consideration to the corners of the physique, and flush door handles underscore the clear facet profile, the automaker stated.
One benefit the E-GMP platform has over rivals is using 800-volt battery know-how for sooner charging on public networks throughout street journeys or lengthy commutes. Most mainstream EV makers use 400-volt methods. Through the use of high-power DC chargers, Kia stated, the EV9 is designed to cost from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 25 minutes.
Kia additionally stated the EV9 is its first automobile to make use of higher-density batteries. The usual pack is rated at 76.1 kilowatt-hours, and the non-obligatory pack is rated at 99.8 kWh. The automaker is concentrating on as much as 300 miles — or 480 kilometres — of vary with the non-obligatory battery pack.
The EV9 will are available in all-wheel-drive in Canada with as much as 379 hp. Will probably be able to accelerating to 100 km/h in 5 seconds, Kia stated. Some variations of the crossover shall be able to towing as much as 5,000 kilos.
“The EV9 is a beacon that factors to the way forward for an electrified lineup for Kia as a mobility chief,” the corporate stated.