The upcoming Kia EV9 electric SUV has been spied once again at the Nurburgring ahead of its world premiere in the first quarter of 2023.
Unlike all the camouflaged prototypes that have been spied to date, our spy photographers caught a glimpse of the dash in this particular EV9 prototype.
It appears the Kia EV9 will receive a digital dash that’s similar to the one in the Kia EV6, as well as top-spec versions of the Kia Niro and Kia Sportage.
All of these model have a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
It’s unclear what the rest of the interior looks like in this spied prototype because it’s covered in black sheets.
The big, boxy electric family hauler has been developed over a period of 44 months, and was first revealed in concept form at last year’s Los Angeles motor show.
Kia recently showed off some official “spy photos” during the final testing phase at its R&D centre in Namyang, South Korea.
The company says the EV9 will serve as the brand’s flagship vehicle and will “revolutionise the large electric SUV segment”.
Some details on the production Kia EV9 have been toned down compared to the concept, but the basic silhouette and lighting signature carries over.
Concept EV9
It also has some visual kinship with the Telluride crossover, such as its vertical lighting elements and boxy shape, though certain elements have been exaggerated like the beltline up-kick and the wheelbase length.
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 100kW 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 Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Genesis GV60.
It’s expected the production version of the Kia 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, a close relation to the Kia Telluride.
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 in March this year it confirmed it’s putting its hand up for 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.
“Whilst it hasn’t been green-lit yet, we feel that we’ll fill a really nice void in the Australian market and be very much a leader in the EV space for that size,” Kia Australia marketing director Dean Norbiato told CarExpert in June this year.
“There’s a lot of coupes and sedans, and smaller cars. This is going to be a true full-size EV for the Australia market.”
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.
Click an image to view the full gallery.
MORE: Kia EV9 teased ahead of early 2023 debut
MORE: 2023 Kia EV9 electric SUV spied
MORE: Kia Australia wants the EV9 SUV
