Following the EV6 GT, Kia is reportedly planning on shoehorning a more powerful electric powertrain into their sizable EV9 SUV. Have they officially gone mad!? For the sane, however, the Korean automaker has released specs on its entire EV9 lineup, including a GT-line derivative. Here is everything there is to know about the flagship.
What is confirmed at the moment is that the EV9 will receive a potent GT-Line derivative however hot news is revolving around Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song statements regarding another electric GT model, second to the EV6 GT is on the cards for 2025. The current EV9 AWD offers 283 kW and 600 N.m dispatched to all wheels while a downloadable feature can increase torque to 700 N.m.
Related: Kia’s EV9 finds a sibling in the sleek EV5 concept
If Kia decides to shoehorn the dual-motor EV6 GT powertrain into the flagship SUV then outputs can be expected in the region of 430 kW and 740 N.m although being the behemoth it is, the EV9 GT would more than likely move with less urgency than its more compact counterpart. Speculation aside, the EV9 lineup has had its full details revealed and it will serve as the first three-row electric flagship underpinned by the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). Boasting a range of over 541 km according to WLTP, the sizable SUV is also equipped with ultra-fast 800-volt charging capability which can regenerate 239 km of range in approximately 15 minutes.
An entry-level rear-wheel drive derivative is available which employs a 76,1 kWh battery while a RWD Long Range and all-wheel drive derivative include a 99,8 kWh battery. The RWD Long Range model utilizes a 150 kW, 350 N.m electric motor, endowing the SUV with the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,4 seconds. Also powered by a single electric motor, albeit a more powerful 160 kW, 350 N.m variant, the Standard RWD EV9 can accelerate from 1,2 seconds faster.
Related: Kia’s EV9 finds a sibling in the sleek EV5 concept
As mentioned before, the AWD variant is equipped with two electric motors that together boast a total output of 283 kW and a combined torque of 600 N.m which enables the model to sprint to 100 km/h in 6,0 seconds. With the optional Boost feature, torque is increased to 700 N.m and it can manage the same sprint in 5,3 seconds. Impressively, within the lineup is also the EV9 GT-line which boasts Level 3 autonomous driving (in selected markets) courtesy of the Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system.
Kia will begin offering pre-orders of the EV9 for the Korean market in the second quarter of 2023. The Kia EV9 will go on sale in selected global markets from the second half of the year. South Africa has not been confirmed to receive the flagship just yet and Kia has stated: “As part of feasibility studies, we will continue to evaluate and test a variety of Kia models. Only once these studies have been completed will we be in a position to comment on bringing EV models to SA.”
