Bigger Power: 380+ hp All-Wheel-Drive
It seems Kia have wasted no time; almost immediately after showing off the EV9 GT-Line, they have now declared that a full-force GT incarnation of their jumbo-sized electric SUV will soon be made available. Its production has already been initiated, with its release date penciled in for early 2025. This news was delivered by Kia CEO Ho Sung Song during an exchange with representatives from the press, which Car and Driver were included in. The EV6 GT is due to become the premier electric GT model ahead of this forthcoming edition.
Not many specifics regarding the EV9 GT have been divulged as of yet, but one is able to make a reasonable supposition. It’s likely that this model will feature an immense performance upgrade on its 2024 EV9 counterpart; the AWD version offers 380 hp (283 kW) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. For those interested in further augmenting their capabilities even more, Kia Connect Store’s downloadable Boost mode will be made available to pump up the output to 516 lb-ft (700 Nm).
Kia may decided to adopt the double-motor arrangement featured in the recently launched EV6 GT, providing 576hp as well as 739Nm of torque. Even if it was equipped with an equivalent amount of power, the heavier EV9 GT would struggle to match the 0-100km/h time of 3.5 seconds achieved by the nimble compact electric crossover. However, when fitted with all-wheel drive and the Boost mode activated, the more hefty EV9 is able to cover the distance at a rate of 6 seconds or in 5.3 seconds respectively.
An amplified variant of the standard E-GMP platform is to be seen later this year courtesy of Hyundai, with the unveiling of the Ioniq 5 N. Said vehicle is speculated to bestow on its owner up to 600 horsepower as well as higher torque output than the EV6 GT. As for the nature of the dual-motor apparatus existence in the EV9 GT, it’s still too premature to ascertain.
It would be reasonable to assume there will a decrease in efficiency. Kia has not revealed the range specs for the AWD EV9 yet, however it is equipped with an extensive 99.8-kWh battery pack that is the same as the RWD Long Range version. This edition should be good for about 336 miles (541 kilometers) based on the current WLTP estimates. However, the AWD operation may lessen those stats, particularly if more features from the GT package are added, and there may also be a substantial gap between WLTP and EPA testing results.
Source: Car and Driver
