The upcoming Kia EV9 GT is targeting a rather niche market; it’s a 7-seat electric SUV aiming to engage car enthusiasts. While this is a subsection of cars no other company has yet to explore, Kia’s recent EVs have proven they can make electric cars that can satisfy the desires of driving fanatics and still provide a practical experience.
A Bold Design Gets Even Bolder
In case the EV9 wasn’t distinctive enough, the new racier version adds more visual drama. The front end is slightly more menacing, with a digital lighting grille showing off different patterns. The GT-exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels add a sportier feel when stationary, and even more so when the EV9 GT is in motion. The large front calipers stand out due to their eye-catching neon green colour and GT lettering.
Neon Green is the Order of the Day
The neon green colouring on the brakes is just the start of the bright motif. It runs throughout the interior, featuring on the exclusive steering wheel and sports seats. The sports seats feature more bolster than usual and are trimmed with Alcantara suede inserts. It’s safe to say they look the part. The rest of the interior features dark grey and black faux leather and suede with neon green accents.
The steering wheel features the drive mode selector, with the neon GT badge representing the all-out mode. There are triple panorama displays, while ambient lighting makes an appearance. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a must nowadays, while the Kia Connect app allows for some functions to be controlled remotely. The EV9 GT is a three-row SUV, allowing for up to 7 passengers to be transported at a time.
Technology for Enjoyment and EV Life
The Kia EV9 GT definitely doesn’t skimp on the driver enjoyment side of things. With 508hp on tap, it can accelerate to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than the next fastest EV9, the GT-Line S. There’s more to the GT than the increased power, though. Electronically Controlled Suspension provides a blend of comfort and handling and it is helped by the Road Preview System, which detects the road ahead to improve comfort based on what it sees.
The e-LSD with dynamic torque vectoring improves grip in the corners, allowing the giant e-SUV to handle better. Like in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the Kia EV9 GT features Virtual Gear Shift, simulating the feeling of a semi-automatic gearbox. This is paired with in-cabin Active Sound Design which uses sounds to further enhance the idea of shifting gears.
As expected, all this performance leads the range to take a hit. 280 miles is respectable for a performance EV but suggests the GT will not be as good at eating up miles as the standard model. Fortunately, it can charge from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes and it is supported by Kia Charge, which allows access to over 800,000 charging points across 28 European countries.
The EV9 GT is an extension of the Korean brand’s plan to have 11 EVs on sale by 2026, 15 models by 2027 and to be all-electric in Europe by 2035. Pricing will be released at a later date, but expect it to be in the vicinity of £85,000.
