It hasn’t been revealed yet, but the new one Kia EV9 The three-row electric SUV has been confirmed for current local introduction final stage 2023the local branch of the brand has confirmed.
Kia Australia chief operating officer Damien Meredith confirmed the EV9 will land in the fourth quarter of this year, with about “400 units” now earmarked for the remainder of the year.
More details will be revealed when the EV9 is revealed in production form in the coming months. Car Expert understand that there will be some form of broadcast around March-April, although exactly when and where is a mystery.
The EV9 will be the second Kia model based on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP-specific electric vehicle (EV) architecture, which already underpins the EV6, as well as the related Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Genesis GV60. Hyundai will release its own version of the EV9 based on the Seven concept revealed last year.
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Concept EV9
While it’s unclear what will power the EV9 – we’re expecting single and dual-motor electric drivetrain options – Kia has stated at the EV9 Concept reveal that it’s capable of driving up to 483km between charges, with 350kW DC ultra-fast charging capable of recharging 10 -80 percent in just 20 or 30 minutes.
Earlier this week, however, a market research survey was sent to Kia Telluride owners and viewed by Driver revealed the EV9 will be offered with a choice of single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive.
Five variants are detailed in the review, starting with the single-motor base model offering 149kW/339Nm and a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of 8.5 seconds; up to the high-output dual-motor flagship with a range of 386km and 298kW and 651Nm, as well as a 0-60mph claim of 5.2 seconds.
US pricing from the survey sees the EV9 start at US$56,000 (A$79,650) and top out at US$73,000 (A$103,772). For reference, the top-spec Sorento PHEV costs US$49,990 (A$71,102) in the US, and costs a little over $80,000 here.
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EV9 prototype
This will make the EV9 the most expensive Kia model on offer in Australia, beating the EV6 GT’s $99,950 plus on-road sticker at the top end of the range. It is likely to be the first vehicle in the brand’s line-up to have a list price of over $100,000 before on-road costs.
Speaking of firsts, the EV9 should be the brand’s largest and first full-size SUV in the local lineup.
The Telluride is not offered locally like the related Hyundai Palisade as it is produced exclusively in left-hand drive (LHD) at Kia’s West Point facility in Georgia, USA.
The EV9 has several visual design links to the large Telluride, including a vertical light signature and boxy design.
More details about the new Kia EV9 will be revealed in the coming months. Stay tuned Car Expert for updates.
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EV9 prototype
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