Kia has previewed the EV9 Concept with a set of official sketches and a teaser, as part of the “Kia Sustainability Movement” online presentation, before its global debut that is scheduled for November 17 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The concept will evolve in a production model which is expected to have the largest footprint of any Kia to date, being the equivalent of the ICE-powered Telluride in the South Korean automaker’s growing electric range.

The EV9 Concept is combining traditional SUV proportions with futuristic design details. The heavily sculpted fenders are putting emphasis on the wheels which are positioned far apart creating a massive wheelbase. Both the headlights and the taillights are very slim thanks to LED technology. There is also a large panoramic sunroof and a floating roof design thanks to the blacked-out pillars.

 

Inside, Kia used recycled fishnets for the flooring and recycled plastic bottles for the seats along with vegan leather upholstery for sustainability. The minimal dashboard has a digital cockpit combining the instrument cluster and the infotainment touchscreen in a single panel, while the traditional steering wheel has been replaced by a yoke.

From the teaser, we can see that the EV9 has three rows of seats with plenty of cabin space thanks to the clever packaging of the electric platform. Speaking of which, Kia confirmed that the EV9 will sit on a stretched version of the E-GMP dedicated EV architecture that already underpins the smaller Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Genesis GV60.

 

The Kia EV9 Concept will evolve into a production version, just like the upcoming Hyundai SEVEN concept will be a preview of the Ioniq 7. Besides a few futuristic details, most of the design is expected to be carried over to the production model.

We will learn more information about the Kia EV9 Concept on its global debut at the AutoMobility LA Show on November 17. Besides the preview for their latest concept car, Kia has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. The automaker’s range in Europe will become fully electric by 2035, with “key global markets” following by 2040. Finally, Kia also announced they will introduce FCEV models in 2028.