INDIA: The EV9 SUV, Kia’s flagship electric model, is gearing up for unveiling in the first quarter of 2023.
With a wheelbase that is 7.8 inches (20 centimetres) longer than Kia’s Palisade model, which is its ICE equivalent in the line-up, this upright and rather boxy three-row SUV rides on the same E-GMP platform as the EV6. However, it has a much larger footprint and a significantly more spacious cabin.
The Korean automaker recently released a teaser video showing a partially revealed production EV9, teasing its side profile, rear light cluster design, and a portion of its front fascia.
It is interesting to note that the company announced in the video that it would fully reveal the model during the Auto Expo, which will take place in New Delhi from January 12 to 15, by posting it on its Indian website and Twitter account.
It’s not yet clear to assume that this will be the vehicle’s global debut or its reveal in advance, and this will be the first time India will witness the car.
The overall dimensions of the concept Kia EV9 will remain, but its design will be different and more subtle. The EV9 concept car has a wheelbase of 3.1 metres (122 inches) and a length of almost 5 metres (197 inches), which should give it enough room inside for all three rows of seats and headroom, given the height of the vehicle.
Most of the current E-GMP model’s battery packs have a nominal capacity of 77.4 kWh, of which about 74 kWh are usable, so an increase in battery capacity is anticipated.
The EV9 and other larger E-GMP-based vehicles, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 7, are said to have around 100 kWh, giving them a range of just under 500 kilometres on a single charge.
According to expectations, the EV9 will go into production toward the end of 2023. There is a good chance that Kia will offer more than one battery pack option, and the most affordable entry point will be the base model with rear-wheel drive.
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