- Kia India is set to showcase the EV9 Concept at the 2023 Auto Expo.
- The all-electric SUV will make its global debut in the first quarter of 2023.
- Based on the familiar E-GMP platform which also underpins the EV6.
Update: Kia EV9 showcased at the 2023 Auto Expo: For more details, read here.
The 2023 Auto Expo will witness a lot of concepts unveils, one of which will be from the house of the Korean automaker, Kia. The EV9 concept is ready to land on Indian shores, as confirmed by a teaser shared by the company. The electric SUV concept made its first public appearance globally in 2021, at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The EV9 is currently undergoing its final testing phase and will make its global debut in the first half of 2023. The all-electric SUV will sit alongside the existing EV6 as the brand's flagship vehicle in the all-electric line-up.
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Kia EV9 Concept: Design Details, Interiors and Dimensions
Having a look at the vehicle's exterior design, it unmistakably looks like a proper SUV with its boxy silhouette and butch stance, while its high ground clearance further supports the cause. The concept sports Kia's iconic blanked-off 'Tiger Nose' front grille that gives a symmetrical appearance, thus resulting in what the brand calls 'Digital Tiger Face'. The grille houses the intricate star cloud pattern display, showcasing multiple patterns based on different functions and sits alongside vertical DRLs, both at the front and rear. Dimension-wise, the EV9 measures 4,930mm in length, 2,055mm wide, and sits 1,790mm high with a wheelbase of 3,100mm. The concept also gets rear-hinged doors, which will likely be skipped in the final production version.
Inside the cabin, a single unit 27-inch display works as the infotainment display as well as the driver's instrument cluster. Some of the other prominent design elements inside the cabin include a seamless dashboard layout, a futuristic steering wheel unit, multiple colour ambient lighting and a three-row seating layout amongst others. The final production model will probably have mellowed-down interiors and come loaded with features such as ADAS tech, OTA updates and more.
Kia EV9: Powertrain and Underpinnings
The EV9 will sit on the familiar E-GMP platform, which also underpins the brand's EV6. In terms of powertrain, in its concept guise, it will carry a 77.4 kWh battery pack, shared with the EV6. The details about the range and power figures are still under wraps, and will likely be revealed at the time of its launch. The all-electric SUV gets the next-generation ultra-fast charging technology which supports up to 350-kW power output, capable of juicing up the battery from 10% to 80% in 20-30 minutes. As we have seen in the EV6, the EV9 will also offer multiple powertrain combinations upon its launch.
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Verdict: Kia's decision to showcase the EV9 at the 2023 Auto Expo indicates that the Korean brand might be evaluating the launch of the all-electric SUV in India. Despite the steep price tag of EV6, all thanks to the CBU import, it managed to garner enough bookings. Although the global debut of the EV9 is slated for the first quarter of 2023, production will likely start in the second half of 2023. So an all-electric SUV with a strong powertrain, modern design and feature-loaded cabin, all at an attractive price point can make a good proposition for the Indian market.
