Everything We Know About the High-Performance Electric SUV
The Hyundai Group is doing a lot right when it comes to electric vehicles, and Kia seems poised to lead the charge on affordable all-electric performance. From a presentation during Kia’s 2024 CEO Investor Day, we learned that a brand-new EV9 GT will join the EV6 GT high-performance model in the lineup.
What We Know
For now, the details are sparse, but Kia is promising that the EV9 GT will debut in January 2025. This would make it a 2026 model year vehicle that could potentially see our shores as a concept as soon as the 2024 LA Auto Show. We reached out to Kia’s American PR arm to see if we could get more details, but the response was essentially a “no comment.”
During the 2024 presentation we viewed on YouTube, Kia’s President and CEO, Ho Sung Song, stated that the EV9 GT “will offer fast acceleration and stable driving performance.” On the large screen behind him, Kia says the GT will have “enormous power output” that should scoot the all-electric SUV to 62 mph at just four seconds. The EV9 GT will feature AWD via two high-output motors mounted to a “reinforced suspension.” Braking will undoubtedly improve thanks to the increased regeneration, as Kia mentions that the electric braking system will provide “stable driving performance at high speeds.”
What Is the Highest Performing EV9 Right Now?
Currently, the top-of-the-line version of the EV9 is the GT-Line, an AWD trim that features dual motors for a combined output of 379 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. For a three-row SUV, the EV9 GT-Line is plenty quick as it gets to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds—2.5 seconds faster than the quickest Kia Telluride and 1.4 seconds faster than a Toyota Grand Highlander Max. It’s also already great a getting to a stop, going from 60 to a dead stop in just 118 feet.
Unfortunately, that current (no pun) GT-Line performance comes at a range penalty of 270-miles at a full charge of its 99.8-kWh battery pack, about 100-miles less than a Telluride with a full tank. Fortunately, the EV9 uses the Hyundai Group 800-volt architecture battery pack and can utilize 350 kW DC Fast Chargers to go from 10 percent (around 20 to 30 miles) to 80 percent charge (around 215 to 220 miles) in just 24 minutes. You can also charge it at home using a 240-volt outlet and wake up to a fully charged EV9. Can’t do that with a Telluride or Grand Highlander Max.
Not the Only GT?
It might also not be the only GT trim in Kia’s all-electric lineup. According to the release related to Kia’s 2024 CEO Investor Day presentation, it “plans to continue releasing GT trim variants of its EV models.” It also promises to maximize comfort and performance with more OTA updates and capabilities. There will also be other improvements made to its various technologies with a mention of a next-generation vehicle architecture, high-performance central computers, controller-integrated software, and more including AI-assistance for fuel efficiency in its ICE-powered models.
