The Kia Concept EV9 Showroom Reveal

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The Kia Concept EV9 teases a new range-topping flagship for the company's rapidly expanding electric car lineup.

The Concept EV9, which was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show alongside the technically related and similarly positioned Hyundai Seven concept, is expected to go into production before 2024. Sales in the United Kingdom are expected as part of the company's push toward electric vehicles.

With dimensions of 4929mm long, 2055mm wide, and 1790mm tall, the Concept EV9 is only marginally smaller than a Range Rover, which will have its own all-electric version by the time the EV9 goes into production. While the all-electric Range Rover will almost certainly cost more than £100,000, the production EV9 is expected to cost around half that.​

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The Concept EV9 is built on the company's E-GMP electric car architecture, which is also used in the recently launched EV6. It is expected to use the concept's largest battery size of 77.4kWh, a lithium ion polymer battery pack mounted in the floor within the 3100mm-long wheelbase. A quick charge of the battery from 10% to 80% takes about 20 minutes.

In its 'performance model,' the Concept EV9 has twin motors for four-wheel drive and a 0-62mph time of around five seconds – though it is not yet confirmed whether this version will wear the same GT badge as the top-rung 577bhp version of the EV6.

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Kia design chief Karim Habib oversaw the styling work. The Concept EV9's rugged appearance includes the next evolution of Kia's 'Tiger Face' front grille, which has gone digital and allowed for a new front air vent design that reduces frontal mass to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

A solar panel is also installed on the front ducts to provide extra charge for the battery, and the 22in triangular-design alloy wheels add to the aerodynamic efficiency.

The Concept EV9 features a number of show car flourishes that will be toned down or replaced for production, such as its dramatic rear-hinged doors and pared-back, ultra-modern three-row interior, which includes the ability for the second row of seats to fold completely flat and the first row of seats to swivel round to create a lounge-type space.

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