The hot new Kia EV9 GT will be priced from £82,185 when it lands in the UK later this summer.
One of the UK's fastest seven-seaters, it's capable of dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in 4.6sec, putting it on a par with the BMW iX xDrive60 and placing it between the 4 and 4S versions of the Porsche Macan Electric.
The electric SUV has a 215bhp motor mounted on the front axle and a 362bhp electric motor at the rear combining for a total output of 502bhp. That’s 124bhp more than the current EV9 range-topper, the GT-Line S.
The only seven-seaters faster than the EV9 GT are the Audi SQ7 (taking 4.1sec to hit 62mph) and the Tesla Model X Plaid (2.5sec to 60mph) – although the Tesla is no longer offered in right-hand-drive form here.
As well as the significant bump in power, the EV9 GT gets the simulated gearbox and engine sounds from Kia sibling brand Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N.
This can be controlled using paddles mounted on the steering wheel and is intended to add more engagement to the electric driving experience.
Kia has also made a number of tweaks to ensure that the SUV – which weighs 2648kg in more mild GT-Line form – can corner too. It gets electronic suspension, which adjusts its firmness based on the car’s drive mode, in addition to an electronic limited-slip differential that distributes power to the wheels with the most traction.
Stopping power is said to have been boosted by the fitting of larger front brakes.
The EV9 GT's range is officially pegged at 280 miles between charges, considerably down on the 349 miles of the more efficient EV9 Air.
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Eventually we're going to run out of ideas of how to make our transport better or should I say fit in with our lives and what we want them to do,having a 2000kg plus do silly and wholly unnecessary speeds is pencil territory,the novelty wears off after a while, we want our transport to be efficient cost not a lot to own.
Who needs to be able to do 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds, in a large family car?
So many EVs are pointlessly fast these days.
I really dont get this one.
A GT version of the EV9 with the 5N simulated gearing. Is this one supposedly for the dads who have forgone their hothatch or 2 seater coupe to help pay for the family run-around ?
I just cant think of a more pointless model. Surely nobody asked for this?
The standard AWD in GT-Line (S) were more than quick enough.