Kia has confirmed that its new flagship seven-seat EV9 SUV will go on sale later this year with a zero emissions driving range of up to 336 miles.
The EV9 is Kia’s second car after the EV6 to use the brand’s new dedicated EV platform.
Prices will be confirmed towards the end of this year when the EV9 will be available to order, but should be expected to be north of £60,000 as the brand moves even further into premium segment territory with its latest SUV models.
The new model will use a 100kW battery, giving a range of up 336 miles and the ability to add almost 150 miles worth of range in 15 minutes.
There will be a Single Motor variant that produces 204PS and a Twin Motor model with 385PS.
The entry level car will be able to accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds, while the more potent model will manage it in 6.0 seconds. Customers will be able to download a performance boost for the Twin Motor Car, post-purchase, using the car’s over-the-air update system, which boosts torque by 100Nm and shaves 0.3 seconds off the 0-62mph sprint time.
The car is offered in both six- and seven-seat formats.
Occupants sitting in the first and second-row seats can simultaneously recline their seats, such as when the EV9 is charging. The seats in the second row can be swivelled 180 degrees so that occupants can interact with those sitting in the third row. The third-row seats also offer cup holders and charging points for mobile devices.
With all three rows of seats occupied, the EV9 provide 571 litres of cargo space, but the second and third-row seats are folded down, the stowage space available expands to 2,320 litres.
EV9 also allows users to power electrical equipment through its integrated charging control unit, which includes vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.
They can use up to 3.68kW from the EV9 to charge laptops or power camping equipment, eliminating the need to worry about outlets in outdoor areas.
Much larger devices can be powered as well, such as an electric grill, which typically uses around 1,500 watts, or an outdoor projector.
Through the Kia Connect Store, customers will be able to enhance their vehicles with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
Inside, the EV9’s panoramic wide display combines a 12.3-inch cluster display, five-inch segment display, and 12.3-inch infotainment system display.
The EV9 takes a step towards full autonomy. Key to achieving this is Kia’s Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system, which provides 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.
The car also features Remote Smart Parking Assist 2, which 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.
More details about the EV9, including pricing will be revealed later in the year, when the car is available to order.