Kia used the New York Auto Show to unveil the EV9 and its corporate cousin has now been spied undergoing testing. Previewed by the Hyundai Seven concept, the production model is instantly recognizable despite eschewing some of the more radical design cues. While the three-row crossover is heavily disguised, we can see it will feature a familiar front fascia with an upper seamless horizon lamp. The headlights appear to be vertical and mounted low on the crossover, just like they were on the concept.
Moving further back, the Ioniq 7 adopts a
more practical five-door configuration as well as side mirrors with integrated
turn signals. We can also get a glimpse of plastic body cladding, which didn’t
appear on the original concept. Other notable highlights include
aerodynamically optimized wheels and a gently sloping roof. The rear end is
heavily disguised and it will likely have little in common with the concept.
Details are hard to make out, but we can see a curvaceous bumper that appears
to have a faux silver skid plate. Elsewhere, there are vertical taillights that
will presumably have pixel graphics.
While the Ioniq 7 features a unique
design, it will ride on the E-GMP platform and share powertrains with the EV9.
As a result, we can expect an entry-level variant with a 76.1 kWh battery that
powers a rear-mounted motor developing 215 hp. Customers
should also be able to get a rear-wheel drive variant with a larger 99.8 kWh
battery, which promises to deliver approximately 483 km of range.
Buyers looking for more power and traction
can expect a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 379 hp and 699 Nm of torque. Kia has said this will enable the EV9 GT-Line
to accelerate from 0-96 km/h in approximately five seconds. The EV9
is slated to arrive in the fourth quarter and the Ioniq 7 should be available
around the same time. That’s just a guess, but we’ll likely learn more in the
coming months.
