When KIA EV9 Going on sale in Australia by the end of 2023, it will be available with two cabin layouts, a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, ultra-fast charging and a significant increase in the use of sustainable materials inside compared to with Kias before. .
Here’s what we know about the Korean brand’s new electric flagship.
External design
The EV9 ushering in a new era of design it calls ‘Opposites United’. It’s a look that Kia describes as inappropriate.
“As you can see, it’s a rather upright, even boxy silhouette,” said Kia Global Design Director Karim Habib. auto expert.
“This is what we did on purpose, we wanted to have what we call a true SUV silhouette. The front glass is upright, the rear glass is upright, the front glass is upright, so that it feels capable.
Kia has managed to logically maintain the original design concept for the EV9.
The smallest wheel size will be 19 inches in diameter, and those wheels will be essential if you want to achieve a headline range of 541 km. Kia will also offer 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels depending on the variant.
Another option is to swap out the traditional rearview mirror with a digital camera. These are smaller outside units, which contribute to improved drag coefficient and range, with footage from these cameras showing up on screens inside the doors near the A-pillars.
Battery and powertrain
The EV9 will launch with a 99.8 kWh battery inside the chassis. Its core architecture is the same Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that underpins the EV6and it also has an 800 volt electrical system to support fast charging.
This electrical setup also allows for two-way charging. That means the EV9 can power external devices using the energy stored in the battery. And that’s not all; it is also capable of charging Vehicle to Grid (V2G) and Car to Building/Home (V2B/V2H), so you can contribute to the grid or power your home with the energy of your cell Bowl.
Kia says the rear-wheel drive EV9 can travel an additional 239 km in just 15 minutes in optimal conditions. The AWD version does not lag behind, adding 219 km in the same period.
The range champion is the single-engine version. It has a 541km range on the tighter WLTP cycle and uses a 150kW/350Nm motor to drive the rear wheels. The car is capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 9.4 seconds and has a top speed of 185km/h.
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Kia allows two slightly different outputs for the dual-engine version depending on the spec type. Each axle has a 141kW electric motor, with the Baseline version producing 250Nm for the front motor and 350Nm for the rear.
In the sportier GT-Line version, the torque output of the front-wheel engine increases to 350Nm, equal to the capacity of the rear axle. That gives it a 0-100 km/h time of 5.3 seconds – compared to 6.0 seconds for the Baseline model. Both variants have a top speed of 200 km/h.
interior space
At 5010mm long and 1980mm wide, the EV9 is Kia’s most spacious passenger car to date, slightly longer than both the North American Telluride and Mohave.
But it’s the 3100mm wheelbase that is the most important aspect of the EV9’s size, as this creates space not only for the large-capacity battery, but also for a more spacious passenger compartment.
The large rear door opens at a wide angle, and in the case of the seven-seat version, the one-touch buttons tilt and slide the outer row of seats for easy access to the third row, even for adults. In six-seat form, the two middle seats can rotate 180 degrees to face those in the third row.
There are plenty of storage options too, including a 90-litre volume on rear-wheel drive models. However, this space is reduced to 52 liters in the all-wheel drive version.
At the other end, there’s 333 liters of trunk space when all the rear seats are in use, and 828 liters if the third row is folded down.
In-car technology
In front of the driver is a fully digital dashboard with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster. Next to that is a 5.1-inch screen that only shows the climate settings and the status of items such as heated or ventilated seats. Then, next to that, and appearing as if behind a large panel, is a second 12.3-inch screen.
This touchscreen runs the infotainment system and is complemented by on-demand illuminated tactile buttons on the dashboard, similar to by Nissan Ariya.
In Europe, Kia plans to offer Level 3 autonomous driving in the EV9 as soon as it is first introduced in locations where that technology is allowed. It does this through a series of sensors discreetly fitted around the vehicle, including two LiDAR units in the front bumper.
It will only work in specific situations, mainly on the highway, and drivers will still have to pay attention to what’s going on around them, but it will help reduce the stress on the journey. longer.
A digital key option will also be offered, allowing owners to store the EV9’s key in their smartphone. The car’s ultra-wideband technology can detect its presence, unlock the doors and allow the car to start without having to take your phone out of your pocket.
There will also be the option to share that digital key with friends or family, and perhaps even restrict certain features on the key you share.
Kia also plans to roll out new features that owners can add to their vehicles by purchasing from the Kia Connect store and activating via online updates. In certain markets, this will include increasing the vehicle’s torque output and enabling in-vehicle content streaming.
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There’s also the Remote Intelligent Parking Assist System 2.0, which enables automatic parking without the driver being inside.
Sustainable materials
One of Kia’s goals is to dramatically increase the amount of recycled materials inside its cars. This is part of a new project that will see 20% of car interior surfaces produced from recycled goods, from plastic bottles to discarded fishing nets mined from the ocean.
Looking inside, it’s hard to tell — it’s impressive how waste can be transformed into materials and surfaces with such a high-quality feel. Even switchgear and trim use BTX-free paint.
Another very simple yet effective approach is that all the buttons that you touch by feel, such as the power seat adjustment, are surrounded by a beautiful glossy finish so you will never touch them. with any hard and scratchable plastic.
To meet the demand for more sustainable materials, Kia used Bio Polyurethane (PU) as an alternative to leather seats.
Bio PU brings the comfort, support and durability needed to the chair while promoting a more eco-friendly approach. Bio-based PU foam is also included in the production of the EV9’s headrest.
Kia is taking important steps to reduce the environmental impact of its paint choices. By combining canola and vegetable oils instead of crude oil and chemical-based alternatives, Kia aims to produce paints that are less harmful.
Furthermore, the company is transitioning to paints that are free of benzene, toluene and xylene. The interior of the EV9 showcases BTX-free paints, ensuring high-quality images without compromising on sustainability.
Different automotive components require different resins. Kia acknowledges the growing importance of recycling Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), known for its excellent resistance to moisture, solvents and impacts, making it highly recyclable.
PET is widely used in the interior of the EV9, including the cabin headrests, sun visors, headrests and seats. Each EV9 combined is equivalent to at least 70 plastic bottles.
Additionally, the mats in the EV9 are made from recycled PET, with a significant portion of the material derived from recycled fishing nets. Kia recognizes the threat to marine life due to an estimated 640,000 tons of fishing gear being discarded in the oceans every year.
To help solve this problem, Kia is working with an organization dedicated to cleaning and collecting ocean waste, incorporating this waste directly into its recycling processes.
THAN: Everything Kia EV9
