Kia this week will debut a new SUV likely to serve as the flagship of its line of electric vehicles. We know little about the vehicle now but will have a great deal more to share on Thursday when the curtain drops on the new model.
Just a Sillhouette For Now
Kia revealed the name and outline of the vehicle in an Instagram post this morning. Called the EV9, it’s a boxy sport utility vehicle with a silhouette like a cross between the funky Soul small hatchback and the midsize Telluride SUV.
Kia has promised to sell at least five all-electric models in the U.S. by 2027. The first, the 2023 EV6, reaches dealerships early in 2022. It’s a sporty hatchback that straddles the line between compact and midsize.
That may mean the EV9 is the largest of the planned Kia EVs. The brand has had tremendous sales success with its Telluride – our 2021 Best Buy in the midsize 3-row SUV category.
Kia Has the Foundation for Telluride-Sized EV
Kia’s EVs will be based on a single platform. A skateboard-like setup that puts most of the moving parts beneath the cabin floor, it can be scaled up or down to build vehicles of different sizes. Using it to build a 3-row SUV like the Telluride would be a logical next move for the Korean automaker.
That platform can accommodate all-wheel-drive and up to 576 horsepower in the EV6, easily enough to power a 7-seat SUV.
We’ll bring more news after Thursday’s reveal.
