SEOUL, South Korea – When the Kia EV9 arrives in U.S. showrooms this 12 months, the brand new all-electric three-row crossover will take the South Korean model into uncharted territory as its new flagship.
Kia needs the EV9 to maneuver its picture up-market whereas additionally reeling in clients from rivals.
The technique appears to be working in South Korea, the place deliveries started June 21. At house, the EV9 racked up 13,000 preorders in its first eight days. And about 60 % of these orders got here from clients new to the model. Usually, that ratio stands round 40 %.
Kia Corp. shall be banking on related magic within the U.S., which it pegs because the EV9’s greatest market.
Kia has such excessive hopes for its third EV, that it’s retooling its plant in West Level, Ga., to begin U.S. manufacturing of the 2024 EV9 subsequent summer season. Till then, the EV9 shall be imported from Korea.
The roomy inside, which sits as much as seven, ought to land the EV9 on loads of purchasing lists stateside. So ought to its 800-volt charging, 99.8-kWh battery choice and all-wheel-drive format. Listed here are 5 cool EV9 options found on a cross-country take a look at drive this month in South Korea.
The EV9 makes use of the brand new E-GMP platform developed by Hyundai Motor Group for Kia, Hyundai and Genesis model electrical automobiles. It will get 800-volt battery know-how for quicker charging on public networks. Most mainstream EV makers use 400-volt programs. Through the use of high-power DC chargers, the EV9 is designed to cost from 10 % to 80 % in 25 minutes.
The crossover choices two batteries, an ordinary 76.1 kilowatt-hour one and an upper-trim pack rated at 99.8 kWh. The automaker targets vary as much as 300 miles with the larger battery.
Regardless of its rugged stance as a hulking crossover, the EV9 possesses a slippery silhouette. Designers achieved a formidable aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.28, not too far off the 0.21 eked by the tremendous slick Ioniq 6 all-electric sedan provided by company stablemate Hyundai.
Regardless of its boxy appears to be like, the EV9’s roof slopes towards the rear, serving to shed the air. Aero additionally will get increase from a flat underbody cowl, low floor clearance, an extended entrance overhang and lively aero grille flaps. In reality, the EV9 will get the longest rear spoiler within the Kia lineup.
The rear-wheel-drive long-range mannequin has a 150-kilowatt electrical motor that covers 0 to 62 mph in 9.4 seconds. The usual rwd variant will get a extra highly effective 160-kilowatt motor that accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds.
The awd model has two electrical motors for mixed output of 283 kilowatts and goes from 0 to 62 mph in 6 seconds. However the true enjoyable begins with an non-compulsory increase function that lifts torque and cuts that acceleration time to five.3 seconds.
Regardless of the EV9’s hefty battery and physique, the powertrain amply propels the car down the highway with sprightly power and nimble dealing with, even with out partaking the booster.
Due to a wheelbase even longer than that of Kia’s Telluride full-size crossover, the inside of the EV9 is comfortably cavernous, with plenty of headroom and ease of motion between the seats. A plethora of cupholders and telephone slots — even an extendable desk that folds out of the middle arm relaxation into the second row — make the EV9 really feel as premium as it’s sensible.
Even with all three rows of seats occupied, the EV9 delivers 20 cubic ft of storage. However with the second and third rows folded down, cargo area expands to 82 cubic ft.
Outfitted with an built-in charging management unit, the EV9 additionally permits individuals to dole out the EV’s battery to energy all method of exterior home equipment, from laptops to electrical grills.
Kia has confirmed {that a} high-performance GT model of the EV9 will arrive as early as 2025. That’s on prime of a GT-line mannequin that debuts with this 12 months’s launch.
Specs are nonetheless underneath wraps. However as a information, take into account how Kia dealt with the EV6 two-row all-electric crossover, the EV9’s little sibling. Within the GT model of the EV6, mixed energy of the awd setup jumps 80 % to 430 kilowatts, from the usual long-range model’s 239 kilowatts. In the meantime, torque will increase to 545 pound-feet, from 446 in the usual mannequin.
Extrapolate that to the EV9’s 283-kilowatt setup, and it may pack fairly a punch.
To raised channel that vibe, nostalgic drivers may even drown out the EV’s pure noiselessness by deciding on a digitalized engine growl that mimics the horsepower sounds of yesteryear.