Specs of Kia’s upcoming electrical flagship SUV seem to have been launched to prospects, together with estimated US-market pricing.
The Korean model has given us an thought of what to anticipate from the upcoming Kia EV9 in a market analysis survey despatched to a Kia Telluride proprietor and seen by Automobile & Driver.
It’s set to be provided with a selection of single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains.
5 variants have been detailed within the survey, with the bottom single-motor mannequin providing 149kW of energy and 339Nm of torque and a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of 8.5 seconds.
Whereas the battery dimension wasn’t specified, this base grade has a claimed vary of 354km however no towing capability. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.
It’s unclear what take a look at cycle these vary figures are primarily based off, however they may very well be estimated US Environmental Safety Company (EPA) figures, and the EPA cycle is thought to be fairly strict.
The survey lists a value of round US$56,000 (A$79,650), which makes it costlier than even the top-spec Telluride SX Status X-Professional (US$52,985/A$75,362). For reference, the lone Sorento PHEV bought within the US – the SX Status – is priced at US$49,990 (A$71,102).
One other single-motor variant is priced at US$61,000 (A$86,762), bumping vary as much as 467km and providing 907kg of towing capability, albeit with a slower 0-60mph time of 8.9 seconds.
The opposite three variants listed function dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains. Probably the most inexpensive, priced at US$63,000 (A$89,606), has 298kW and 515Nm, good for a 0-60mph time of 6.0 seconds.
Vary is lowered to 418km however towing capability is elevated to 1588kg. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.
A US$68,000 (A$79,650) model with 20-inch wheels cuts vary to 386km.
Lastly, the flagship model, priced at US$73,000, additionally has 386km of vary and 298kW however has additional torque (651Nm) and towing capability (2041kg complete)
It’s the quickest member of the proposed EV9 household, with a 0-60mph time of 5.2 seconds. The survey additionally notes it rides on 21-inch black wheels with black exterior trim, plus an additional 10mm of floor clearance.
Kia within the US tends to present its highest-spec SUVs a extra rugged look with black or darkish gray exterior parts.
“Like different automobile firms, we’re consistently evaluating the market and sometimes conduct analysis frequently to tell future product improvement,” a spokesperson for Kia instructed Automobile & Driver.
A spokesperson additionally instructed Electrek that remaining specs are “very a lot in flux at the moment because the launch is just not till later this yr”.
It stays to be seen how carefully the EV9 hews to those proposed specs.
It has but to be revealed in manufacturing guise, although a debut is about for the primary quarter of this yr.
First proven in idea guise in November 2021, the EV9 can be Kia’s flagship mannequin and the corporate’s Australian arm has mentioned it’s placing its hand up for any EV it will probably get.
Kia launched photos of prototypes within the remaining testing part final August, with EV9s being put via the paces each on- and off-road.
By means of the camouflage we are able to see it bears a detailed resemblance to the Idea EV9, although a few of that car’s wilder parts like its 22-inch wheels and suicide doorways have been both toned down or eliminated.
The manufacturing EV9 additionally has some visible kinship with the favored Telluride crossover, similar to its vertical lighting parts and boxy form, although sure parts have been exaggerated just like the beltline up-kick and the wheelbase size.
It’s anticipated the manufacturing model of the EV9 can be an analogous dimension to the idea.
The Idea EV9 measured in at 4930mm lengthy, 2055mm extensive, and 1790mm tall with a 3100mm wheelbase.
For reference, that’s 50mm shorter, 80mm wider, and 40mm taller than the Hyundai Palisade, a detailed relation to the Kia Telluride.
The Idea EV9 additionally has a 200mm longer wheelbase than the Palisade, for optimum inside room.
A big, boxy three-row SUV, the Kia EV9 can be constructed on the modular E-GMP platform which underpins the EV6, in addition to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 and Genesis GV60.
Hyundai additionally has a big three-row SUV of its personal within the works, previewed by the 2021 Seven idea, set for a 2024 launch. It’ll put on the Ioniq 7 nameplate.
Genesis can also be rumoured to be engaged on a flagship, three-row EV SUV of its personal, probably carrying the GV90 nameplate.
