Kia has revealed full details of the EV9, its first three-row seat electric flagship SUV. Based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 promises performance complemented by a all-electric range of over 336 miles. Ultra-fast 800-volt charging capability enables the EV9 battery pack to be replenished with sufficient charge to power the vehicle for 148 miles in approximately 15 minutes.
Numerous technological breakthroughs include the Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system (to be available in future EV9 GT-line models) enabling conditional Level 3 autonomous driving. Also introduced is the Kia Connect Store which enables customers to purchase digital features and services on demand, giving owners the flexibility to choose the features they want and continuously upgrade the capability of the EV9 with Over the Air (OTA) updates.
Ho Sung Song, President and CEO, said: “The Kia EV9 transcends all aspects of traditional SUV thinking and represents the pinnacle of Kia’s design and engineering capabilities. Created to meet the needs of all family members, the EV9 also spearheads Kia’s rapid transition to a sustainable mobility solutions provider, not just by its advanced EV architecture, but also through the numerous recycled and sustainable materials used in its creation.”
Kia will begin offering pre-order of the EV9 for the Korean market in the second quarter of 2023. The Kia EV9 will go on sale in selected global markets from the second half of the year.
Kia has released the EV9 world premiere video with full details of the model.
Design: reshaping the SUV user experience for millennial families
Guided by the brand’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, the EV9 re-envisions the all-electric SUV with a unique balance of natural and modern elements. The vehicle features a 122 inch wheelbase, supported by a choice of 21-inch, 20-inch or 19-inch wheels. Overall length is 197.24 inches, width is 77.95 inches and the height is 69.09 inches. The SUV has a ‘Digital Tiger Face’ accentuated by a ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille’ and vertical headlamps, giving the EV9 a futuristic look. The Digital Tiger Face also features two clusters of small cube lamps adjacent to each headlamp. The EV9’s ‘Star Map’ LED daytime running lights (DRL) create a animated lighting pattern that will carry over to future EV models.
In addition to the standard model Kia has unveiled the GT-line model. The front and rear bumpers, wheels, and roof rack feature a distinctive black color setting it apart from its standard counterpart. The GT-line also includes an exclusive ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille,
Beyond its stunning exterior, the EV9 also delivers on performance with an impressive aerodynamic coefficient of 0.28. This has been achieved through the implementation of several advanced features. These include Kia’s first-ever 3D-sculpted underbody cover, which features a convex shape at the front and a concave shape at the rear, along with aerodynamic wheels, and innovative air curtains integrated into the front bumper. These elements combine seamlessly to provide superior airflow control and optimized performance and efficiency, delivering an exhilarating driving experience.
The Kia EV9 offers a range of seating options including a seven-seater and six-seater configuration and a variety of second-row seat options including 3-person bench seat, basic-type, relaxation-type, and swivel-type two-seater independent seats.
When equipped with the second-row relaxation seats, the EV9 allows first and second-row occupants to recline together while the SUV is charging. With the swivel seat option, the second-row seats swivel 180 degrees to enable conversations with those seated in the third row. Occupants in the third row are provided with charging points and cup holders.
Sustainability: setting new standards for responsible mobility
Kia’s strategic commitment to become a leader in sustainable mobility, and its declared roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, extend beyond the provision of zero-emission EV drivetrains. They also encompass the materials used in the vehicle’s construction, and the EV9 takes this to the next level, with eco-friendly materials applied to set new standards in sustainable mobility.
The Kia EV9 marks a milestone as the first model to embrace Kia’s three-step Design Sustainability Strategy, which phases out the use of leather. All new Kia models will instead increase the use of bio-based materials such as corn, sugar cane, and natural oils. Kia’s target is to increase the proportion of recycled plastics it uses to 20 per cent by 2030.
The EV9’s color palette draws inspiration from nature’s four core elements, namely light, air, earth, and water, to establish a connection with nature’s beauty and fuse it into the EV9’s design philosophy. The interior features a total of six different combinations, from a light modern grey to elegant natural tones and a more sporting version for the GT-line.
Electric drivetrain: full range of multiple zero-emission mobility solutions
The EV9 features a broad choice of electric powertrain configurations based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and utilizing Kia’s fourth-generation battery technology. A 76.1-kWh battery is offered exclusively with the Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) Standard model7, while a 99.8-kWh battery is fitted in both the RWD Long Range and All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants.
The RWD Long Range model utilizes a 150 kW / 350 Nm electric motor, endowing the SUV with the ability to accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 9.4 seconds, as preliminary data reveals. Also powered by a single electric motor, albeit a more powerful 160 kW / 350 Nm variant, the Standard RWD EV9 can accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds.
The AWD variant is equipped with two electric motors that together unleash a total power output of 283 kW and a combined torque of 600 Nm. This potent combination enables the SUV to surge from 0-to-100 km/h in just 6.0 seconds.
Greater levels of performance are available with an optional Boost feature available for purchase at the Kia Connect Store and enabled in your car via an Over The Air (OTA) update. The combined torque after purchasing the upgrade is 700 Nm, enabling the EV9 to accelerate from 0-to-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.
The EV9 comes with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality through its Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), enabling the discharging of energy from the vehicle battery. Families can use up to 3.68 kW9 of power for laptops or camping equipment.
Highway Driving Pilot: unlocking conditional Level 3 autonomy
The EV9 will take a significant step towards full autonomy. Key to achieving this is Kia’s Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system, which will provide the EV9 with conditional Level 3 autonomous driving. Fifteen sensors, including two lidars, enable it to scan for and detect objects in a full 360-degree field of view, enabling it to detect and react to the road and other users to prevent potential collisions.
By providing intelligent, proactive, real-time assistance across a wide range of conditions, Kia’s Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system will meet the criteria required to deliver Level 3 autonomy in certain areas of the world. The car will be capable of conditional driving automation where conditions permit, enabling the driver to temporarily take a break from controlling the vehicle.
Kia is planning to offer the HDP in the EV9 GT-line model.
Kia Connect Store: update your EV9 anytime anywhere
Beyond the standard features of the EV9 the Kia Connect Store offers a wide array of options. This enables customers to keep their EV9 constantly updated by upgrading the SUV’s digital features and services without any need to take the vehicle to a dealership. The EV9’s ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille’ technology can be further enhanced with the addition of the ‘Lighting Pattern’ feature. Customers can also specify additional performance for the AWD EV9 with an optional Boost feature unlocks an extra 100 Nm of torque for the electric motor for a more thrilling and dynamic driving experience.
Kia’s Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA 2) is also offered as a digital feature, as is content streaming for occupants to enjoy through the vehicle’s Audio Visual, Navigation and Telematics (AVNT) system.
Safety and convenience: designed and engineered to enhance the driving experience of all occupants
The EV9’s numerous additional features facilitated by Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) include Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA 2). This technology enables the EV9 to park itself without the need for driver intervention, whether in or out of the vehicle, with the driver initiating the procedure via the Kia smart key called Digital Key 2.
By using ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles, the RSPA 2 automatically maneuvers the EV9 into the designated parking space, controlling the accelerator, brakes, and gearshift. The system also automatically applies the brakes if an object representing an obstruction is detected in the vehicle’s path. The EV9 also features Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) to prevent collisions with oncoming vehicles when reversing.
Alongside these features, the vehicle incorporates numerous advanced driver assistance systems from Kia to enhance passenger safety, such as Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), designed to aid drivers in potentially dangerous scenarios. The Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control (NSCC) ensures safe driving on highways and automobile-only roads, while Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) enables lane changes and uses a hands-on detection (HOD) sensor to ensure driver engagement.
In addition, the EV9 offers pre- and post-driving safety and convenience with features such as Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance (RCCA) and Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA). Finally, Digital Key 2 utilizes Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) technology, allowing users to open and start their car using their smartphone, even when the key is in their pocket or bag – another first for Kia.
Kia has leveraged only the most advanced engineering design and technologies to provide EV9 customers, and their families, with optimum safety in all conditions. The EV9’s chassis frame structure features an exceptionally high-torsional stiffness and the world’s first patent-pending B-pillar connection structure technology featuring an extended overlap between crash barrier and side sill. These technological advances provide class-leading levels of protection and safeguarding for both occupants and batteries, with in-cabin protection enhanced by ten airbags12.
Kia’s global campaign for the EV9: ‘Here to reshape the way we move’
Kia is set to embark on a series of global campaign activities, encapsulated in the statement ‘Here to reshape the way we move’. This statement speaks to the company’s commitment to innovation and its vision for a future that is more sustainable, efficient, and convenient.
The EV9 is set to make its inaugural physical debut at the Seoul Mobility Show 2023 later this month. It will then be showcased at this year’s New York International Auto Show in early April. With the EV9, Kia is poised to set a new standard for electric vehicles that revolutionizes the concept of traveling in style and comfort.
