Kia premieres EV9 flagship E-SUV globally: Level 3 ADAS, 541 km range, swivel seats and more – Times of India

South Korean automobile giant Kia, has taken the wraps off the production-ready EV9 electric SUV which will replace the EV6 as the brand’s flagship vehicle globally. The unveil comes months after Kia showcased the EV9 Concept car at the 2023 Auto Expo in Greater Noida. What’s notable in the production model, is how close it is to the concept car in terms of exterior design and dimensions. The EV9 E-SUV is due to debut in New York in the first week of April 2023 and will be launched by February 2025. Overall, Kia plans to launch 15 fully electric vehicles in global markets by 2027. Here is everything we know about the EV9.

In terms of design, the EV9 is both contemporary and modern. It gets proper D-segment SUV dimensions, the EV9’s E-GMP platform allows for a long wheelbase with wheels placed at each corner with short overhangs. This also opens up a lot of space inside the cabin and it also gets a flat floor area. The front end gets boxy shoulders with sharp and angular fenders. The front fascia of the Kia EV9 is being referred to as the ‘Digital Tiger Face’. Kia highlights the embedded lighting patterns inside the front bumper as the reason and also tells us that the light pattern is customisable.
Inside the EV9, one of the major highlights of the cabin are the various sustainable materials used instead of leather. Material such as plant based BioPU, made out of corn and sugarcane have been used to offer a durable and eco-friendly interior. The EV9 also gets panoramic display for both its instrumentation and infotainment and a 14-speaker Meridian sound system. The E-GMP platform further allows a customisable seating arrangement inside the SUV. The second row seats have 180 degree swivel function and the front and back seats get massage function. The EV9 also gets two separate sunroof units at the front and back.

However, one of the key highlights of the Kia EV9, is its Level 3 ADAS functionality that utilises 15 sensors around the vehicle and 2 LiDAR scanners to offer advanced driver assistance such as Highway Driving Pilot (HDP), Remote Smart Parking Assist 2.0 (RSPA) and more. The EV9 also supports OTA updates, features such as acceleration boost, custom lighting patterns and more can be upgraded via the smart app using this feature.
In terms of performance, the EV9 will get a dual-motor setup with one mote on each axle. While Kia did not disclose any performance figures, it did reveal that the electric SUV will get a 99.8 kWh battery pack offering a range of 541 km. The EV9 will also support 800 volts of fast charging that will allow for 239 km of range from a 15 minute charge. Other performance features include advanced traction control and auto terrain mode in the EV9. The EV gets the vehicle-to-load feature which enables users to use the battery pack as an energy reservoir to power devices.

As of now, kia has only confirmed that the EV9 will be launched in February 2025, no clarity has been given on if the electric SUV will make it to india, once it has been launched.
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