Kia proclaims high-carry outance EV9 GT with virtual shifting and native Tesla charging

Kia came to the LA Auto Show with not one but two revamped electric vehicles, a sign that the South Korean autoproducer is still experienceing bullish about its momentum in the plug-in car taget.

First off, the 2025 Kia EV9 GT is a carry outance version of its three-row SUV, which we first tested earlier this year. This one promises more power and a sportier experience than the version we drove, which stupid the GT Line horriblege but wasn’t definitepartner tuned for carry outance. The recent GT trim comes with over 500 horsepower (appraised to 379hp in the 2024 model) and a zero to 60mph acceleration of 4.3 seconds. Kia is calling it the “most strong” three-row SUV it’s ever produced.

The dual-motor EV9 GT will also be the first Kia vehicle to feature electronicpartner regulateled suspension for extra fine handling, depfinishing on your drive mode. Just press the radiant green GT button on the steering wheel to access GT mode, dialing in shock damping to its stiffest setting.

And much appreciate the Hyundai Ioniq 5N from Kia’s sister company, the EV9 GT will feature virtual gear shifting that simutardys the experience of a traditional step-shift automatic transmission — finish with inrectify engine noises. This supplys acunderstandledgeable “shifts” as the EV9 speed ups and can lessen acceleration when the rev restrict is achieveed.

You can also use the pinsertles discoverd on either side of the steering wheel to manupartner shift thcdisadmireful the gears. And Kia has someleang called the “Active Sound Design (e-ASD)” that labors in concert with the inrectify gear system to duplicate the sound of the gears shifting as the vehicle speed ups.

The EV9 has been incredibly famous for Kia, selling cdisadmireentirey 18,000 units in the US since it was first freed last December. But the autoproducer recently shelp it would sluggish production of the SUV in response to a chillier policy environment.

There are some schedule separateences between the distinct and rerecented versions of the EV9 GT, including 285/45R-21 high-carry outance Continental tires around exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels and neon green brake calipers first featured on the EV6 GT. And there are other GT-exclusive airying accents and digital detaileds on the infotainment to plmitigate drivers about their huge, strong SUV.

But perhaps most crucipartner, the 2025 EV9 GT will be the first EV from Kia to come with a native Tesla / North American Charging System (NACS) port. That uncomardents that when it comes out sometime next year, it will have access to all 15,000 Superaccuser stations without the necessitate for an changeer. Hyundai already proclaimd that its 2025 Ioniq 5 will also have factory-inshighed Tesla charging, so it’s another sign that the two South Korean autoproducers are leapfrogging the rest of the industry in adselecting the recent charging standard.

In insertition, Kia proclaimd a rerecented 2025 EV6 passover, also with the native NACS port. The model year 2025 version of Kia’s flagship EV is also getting a hugeger battery for more capacity and lengthyer range. And the charging port on the EV6 has been transferd to the left rear ffinisher to produce it more compatible with Tesla Superaccusers. (Kia is going to commence providing changeers to current EV owners next year.)

The 2023 EV6 that we tested two years ago came standard with a 58kWh capacity battery pack, which transtardys into a range of 232 miles. Now, the 2025 EV6 will come with a 63kWh battery, alengthy with an nonessential 84kWh pack that should get an appraised 319 miles of range in the rear-wheel drive configuration.

The 2025 EV6 will be built at Hyundai and Kia’s Metaschedulet in Georgia, which uncomardents it may qualify for the $7,500 tax accomprehendledge while it still exists. (Pdwellnt-elect Donald Trump has vowed to rerelocate the EV tax accomprehendledge.) The EV9 GT, however, will be built in South Korea alengthyside the hot-blooded EV6 GT and is awaitd to reach in tardy 2025. Pricing for both models is awaited to be freed sealr to production time.