Kia India has teased the EV9 electric SUV ahead of its launch in the country on October 3. The EV9 will be brought to India through the CBU route and go on to become the company’s flagship offering here upon arrival.
- EV9 to be brought to India as a CBU
- Expected to be priced above Rs 1 crore
The Kia EV9 made its debut in India in concept form at the Auto Expo 2023, and then was revealed globally in production form a few months later. Based on the E-GMP skateboard electric platform, the EV9 measures 5,010mm in length and has a wheelbase of 3,100mm, and offers either a 6- or a 7-seat setup.
Kia EV9: powertrain, specs, features
In foreign markets, the Kia EV9 is available with two battery options: a 76.1kWh unit and a larger 99.8kWh unit. The rear-wheel drive variants with a single motor offer an EPA-estimated range of 370-489km, while the all-wheel drive version with dual electric motors have a range of 435-451km on a single charge.
The single-motor version produces 201hp or 215hp, depending on the variant, and 350Nm of peak torque. Meanwhile the AWD version makes 379hp and up to 700Nm torque. The range-topping GT-Line can sprint from 0-100kph in 5.3 seconds before topping out at 200kph. It is yet to be seen if both the RWD and AWD versions will be brought to India.
Kia EV9: expected price, rivals
The EV9 will be brought to India as a direct import, and will be positioned above the EV6 - Kia’s current flagship offering. It is expected to carry a price tag of over Rs 1 crore (ex-showroom), which means that it will go up against luxury electric SUVs such as Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, BMW iX1 and Audi Q8 e-tron. Along with the EV9, Kia will also be launching the next-gen Carnival in India on October 3.
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