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The production version in 2023 will be a 3-row 4WD off-road vehicle


On Thursday, Kia revealed a little more about how its upcoming EV9 electric SUV will fit into the market. And it includes a few surprises.

The production EV9, slated for a world launch in the first quarter of 2023 and a U.S. rollout in the second half of 2023, is currently undergoing final endurance testing. According to Kia, that already includes deep wading, 4WD and rough terrain trail testing – in addition to high-speed testing and thorough monitoring of ride comfort.

All in all, it suggests that the EV9 will add something of a traditional SUV’s off-road capability to its capabilities compared to many other electric SUVs on the market that are almost exclusively for the street.

There might be a good reason for the EV9’s built-in off-road capabilities and more outdoor emphasis. The brand has also confirmed that a Kia electric pickup is working as a global model, although it stopped short only shortly after confirming that it was coming to the US market.

Kia Concept EV9

Kia Concept EV9

The EV9 is likely to be the largest vehicle yet designed and built in Japan Dedicated electric vehicle platform E-GMP shared between Hyundai, Kia and Genesis. It creates no accommodation for the motor, to maximize design flexibility.

The electric SUV could serve as a complementary electric model to the wildly successful Telluride, and its serious off-road capabilities are a captivating driving genre. Kia EV6 not equipped for. That model is classified by the EPA as a small scooter – a passenger car, not an SUV – and the brand is instead taking the EV6 seriously with performance. EV6 GT 576 hp claims performance numbers outperforming Tesla Model Y. Performance.

Kia also confirmed that the production EV9 will offer three rows of seats. That would be an advantage in the market, as it’s surprising how few electric vehicles offer that these days. The BMW iX and Audi E-Tron SUV skip the third row.

Kia has introduced a number of attractive features in the EV9 . concept from last year’s LA auto show and some of them may appear in production versions. Its dash is a step more minimalist than current Kia EVs; there is a new palette of sustainable materials; and the second row of seats can rotate opposite the third row.

Kia Concept EV9

Kia Concept EV9

Kia Concept EV9

Kia Concept EV9

Kia Concept EV9

Kia Concept EV9

There have been some hints that Kia plans to scale up production of this model. The brand also adds that the EV9 “will become the flagship model for the brand and will revolutionize the full-size electric SUV segment” – setting the stage for a price point that can only reach luxury vehicles. Kia has confirmed that the production EV9 will have a range of up to 300 km.

If Kia plays its cards well with the EV9, it also has the potential to take some Rivian R1S buyers, as the U.S. electric truck maker struggles to ramp up production — even as prices rise dramatically — to meet demand.



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