The next step in Kia’s electric car rollout, the EV9 SUV, has been snapped testing.
The big, boxy family hauler was caught outside the Nurburgring. It’s wearing less camouflage than previous prototypes, with what look like production-ready lights.
Although some details have been toned down (the 22-inch wheels and suicide doors), the basic silhouette and light design of the production car look fairly true to the concept.
It’s unclear what electric powertrains will be offered in the EV9, but Carscoops reported in 2021 the related six- or seven-seat Hyundai Ioniq 7 will use a 100kWh battery pack and offer a 230kW dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain
Kia didn’t detail the drivetrain specifications of the Concept EV9, but claimed it has a range of up to 483km.
The concept could be DC fast-charged at speeds up to 350kW, which means it could be zapped from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 to 30 minutes when connected to a suitable public charger.
A large, boxy three-row SUV, the Kia EV9 will be built on the modular E-GMP platform, which underpins the EV6, as well as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Genesis GV60.
It’s expected the production version of the EV9 will be a similar size to the concept.
The Concept EV9 measured in at 4930mm long, 2055mm wide, and 1790mm tall with a 3100mm wheelbase.
For reference, that’s 50mm shorter, 80mm wider, and 40mm taller than the Hyundai Palisade large SUV. The Concept EV9 also has a 200mm longer wheelbase than the Palisade, for maximum interior room
Kia Australia has yet to officially lock in the EV9 but has previously confirmed it’s putting its hand up any electric model it can get.
“We are interested, however the detailed plans of Kia Australia’s future EV line-up such as the EV9, are not yet fixed and will be announced in due course,” said a spokesperson for Kia Australia.
Globally, Kia is launching seven all-electric vehicles by 2027 that’ll use the E-GMP platform, with the company aiming for 25 per cent of its sales volume to come from electrified cars by 2029.
Though Kia has released shadowy teasers of various E-GMP models, it has only introduced the EV6 thus far and previewed the EV9 in concept form.
Other E-GMP models, per the teasers, appear to include a small or mid-sized crossover, a slinky sedan (à la the Hyundai Ioniq 6), a small coupe, and a small hatchback.
The three-row EV9 is, by far, the largest of the upcoming E-GMP-based Kia cars.
MORE: Kia EV9 electric SUV concept revealed
MORE: Kia EV9 electric SUV due in Europe in 2023, unconfirmed for Australia
