Kia EV9 boasts 336-mile target range in digital world premiere

Kia Corp.’s second all-electric sport utility vehicle EV9 made its global premiere virtually on Tuesday, boasting a target driving range of 541 kilometers (336.2 miles) on a single charge and ultra-fast 800-volt charging capability.

The EV9, the second EV model of South Korea’s second-largest carmaker, is fitted with a 76.1-kilowatt hour (kWh) battery for the Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) model or a 99.8-kWh battery for the RWD Long Range and All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants, according to the specification details unveiled by Kia on Tuesday.

Its ultra-fast 800-volt charging system will enable the EV9 to be charged to nearly 80% from 10% in about 25 minutes with a 350-kWh charger.

The company targets a 541-km all-electric range on a single charge for the EV9 to take its pre-orders in the second quarter at home.

Kia’s first three-row electric SUV, built on Hyundai Motor Group’s EV dedicated platform E-GMP, is set to go on sale in selected global markets starting in the second half, according to the company.

LEVEL 3 AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

The EV9 will come with the Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system that meets the requirements for conditional Level 3 autonomous driving. With 15 sensors, including two lidars, the electric SUV can scan for and detect objects in a full 360-degree field of view, according to the company.

“The car will be capable of conditional driving automation where conditions permit, enabling the driver to temporarily take a break from controlling the vehicle,” Kia said in a press release.  

Its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is powered by Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA2), which enables the EV9 to park itself without the driver’s intervention. It will be initiated by the Kia smart key called Digital Key 2.

SUSTAINABILITY

Under Kia’s goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and increase recycled plastic uses to 20% by 2030, the EV9 uses eco-friendly materials in its body, including bio-based materials like corn, sugar cane and natural oils.

It will come in five new colors – ocean blue, pebble gray, iceberg green, matte silver and ocean matte blue – inspired by nature’s four core elements, namely light, air, earth and water.

It is also bigger than the Palisade, a three-row, upscale SUV by Kia’s bigger sibling Hyundai Motor Co.

The EV9’s detailed technical specifications are unveiled two weeks after Kia teased the car’s design and other features.

It will be showcased at the Seoul Mobility Show 2023 from March 31 to April 9 and this year’s New York International Auto Show in early April, the company said.

Write to Han-Shin Park at phs@hankyung.com

Sookyung Seo edited this article.