Kia EV9 GT bows in LA with all specs

Kia has come to the Los Angeles Auto Show with a flagship version of its EV9 crossover, its beefiest seven-seater in history. The new EV9 GT won’t go on sale until the second half of 2025, but we already have the specifics.

In its North American guise, the electric crossover outputs 508 PS (501 hp / 374 kW). That’s more than 120 PS (120 hp / 90 kW) better than the GT Line trim could do. Equipped like this, the family hauler sprints 0-96.6 km/h (0-60 mph) in 4.3 seconds – down from the 5 seconds of the GT Line. It can also replenish its battery from 10 to 80 percent in 25 minutes, Kia claims.

Transmission-minded drivers will know to appreciate VGS, a complex system designed specifically to provide an imitation of an automatic gearbox in an electric vehicle. It can convincingly simulate gear shifts and revving of the engine, either on its own or whenever the driver uses steering wheel stalks. A simulated engine soundtrack makes sure to follow the emulated RPM counts.

In its base trim, the EV9 GT features adaptive shock absorbers and a wide selection of drive presets, including the extreme “GT” mode activated by a dedicated button. Each preset comes with its own suspension, brake and steering settings. Kia also mentions e-LSD, a feature that imitates differentials by braking inward-facing wheels in corners and maximizing the torque at the outward ones.

Other than that, the GT version looks almost the same as its “normal” counterpart. Things get more exciting in the cabin with a different steering wheel, Alcantara all around and a new infotainment UI.

In the United States, the EV will be sold with a NACS-standard charging port promising full Tesla Supercharger compatibility.