Kia has unveiled its flagship electric vehicle, the Kia EV9, at the 2023 Geneva Motor Show. The new model is the first to use Kia's dedicated EV platform, which promises more space, performance, and efficiency than ever before. The Kia EV9 also showcases Kia's vision for sustainable mobility in Europe, with a range of features that aim to reduce its environmental impact and enhance its social value.
What makes the Kia EV9 stand out?
The Kia EV9 is a large SUV that can seat up to seven passengers in comfort and style. It has a sleek and futuristic design, with a distinctive front grille that features a digital display and a dynamic light signature. The rear of the vehicle also has a unique LED taillight that spans across the car's width.
The interior of the Kia EV9 is spacious and luxurious, with a minimalist dashboard that features a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The seats are made of recycled PET bottles and vegan leather, and the floor mats are made of bio-based materials. The cabin also has a panoramic sunroof that can be opened or closed with a gesture.
The Kia EV9 is powered by two electric motors that deliver a combined output of 313 horsepower and 605 Nm of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). It has a battery capacity of 77.4 kWh, which enables a range of up to 480 km (298 miles) on a single charge.
The Kia EV9 also supports fast charging, which can replenish up to 80% of the battery in just 18 minutes using a 350 kW charger. The vehicle also has a bi-directional charging capability, which means it can supply electricity to other devices or vehicles using a V2L (vehicle-to-load) function.
How does the Kia EV9 contribute to sustainable mobility?
The Kia EV9 is not only a zero-emission vehicle but also a vehicle that aims to minimize its environmental footprint throughout its life cycle. Kia has adopted a circular economy approach, which means it uses recycled or renewable materials wherever possible, and designs its products to be easily repaired, reused, or recycled.
For example, the Kia EV9 uses recycled aluminum for its body panels, reducing weight and energy consumption. It also uses bio-based plastics for its bumpers and wheel arches, which reduces its reliance on fossil fuels. The vehicle also has an eco-friendly paint process, which uses water-based paints and reduces volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions by 50%.
The Kia EV9 also strives to create social value by enhancing its users' and communities' safety, convenience, and connectivity. The vehicle has a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision avoidance assist. It also has a remote smart parking assist (RSPA) function, which allows the driver to park or unpark the vehicle using a smartphone app.
The Kia EV9 also has an intelligent infotainment system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and over-the-air (OTA) updates. The system also integrates with Kia Connect, which is a cloud-based service that provides real-time information on charging stations, traffic conditions, weather forecasts, and more. The system also allows the driver to customize various settings and preferences using voice commands or gestures.
