Kia teases the makeover of the flagship EV9

Kia’s large SUV is certainly the unexpected hit of the Korean automaker’s electric lineup.

This Kia is big, expensive, and frankly quite borderline in terms of ecological acceptability, but an internal combustion equivalent would obviously pollute even more. Because the Kia EV9 is fortunately a friendly 100% electric monster.

Presented and marketed in France in 2023, the EV9 is primarily designed for the United States, where size is not only no problem but also a major selling point. To exaggerate, one could even say that the bigger a 100% electric model is, the more chances it has to make people forget it’s electric and thus succeed commercially. The Cybertruck, do you know it? In just a few months, nearly 50,000 units of the Kia EV9 have been sold worldwide. And the pace shows no sign of slowing, with an average of 3,000 sales per month.

But a model must know how to evolve to avoid stagnation, and Kia revealed a completely new concept car during the opening day of the 2024 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. Designed by the Kia Design Center America (KDCA), it demonstrates potential upgrades that could soon be made to the EV9.

Still big but more practical?

Intended for serious fun, this EV9 EV 2025 has been refined to become the most adventurous Kia has ever imagined. With redesigned front and rear facades for a rugged look and reinforced sills for increased off-road capabilities, its ride height has been raised compared to the standard EV9. A set of sturdier wheels and tires has been added to maximize off-road performance. A customized roof rack can handle everything from standard cargo containers to bespoke rooftop tents that convert the EV9 ADVNTR, for adventure, into the perfect outdoor escape vehicle.

So, what to take away from this merely concept-styled study? In our opinion, the redesigned front and rear give it a refresh and the innovative roof rack adds increased versatility. Regarding the roof, it’s always surprising how much space is neglected! These are perfect ingredients for a subtle facelift that could give a sales boost. All the off-road fluff is just window dressing, as this is clearly not the vehicle’s primary purpose.

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