Kia EV9 up for grabs in Thailand; When will it come to Malaysia?

KUALA LUMPUR: As the demand for electric vehicles continues to rise globally, Kia remains at the forefront of innovation, driving the shift towards a cleaner and more sustainable automotive industry. The automaker has recently launched its flagship electric SUV, the EV9, in Thailand. 

The Kia EV9 is offered in two variants in the Land of Smiles - Earth Long Range and GT-Line AWD, priced at THB 3,499,000 (RM 462k) and THB 3,899,000 (RM 515k).

The Earth Long Range trim is powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor tuned to generate a maximum power of 203 PS and a peak torque of 350 Nm. The GT-Line AWD, on the other hand, comes equipped with a dual motor setup, which is good for making 389 PS and 700 Nm of torque. In terms of performance, the lower-spec model runs from zero to 100 kmph in 9.4 seconds, while the higher-spec version completes the same task in just 5.3 seconds.

As for the battery pack, both variants feature a 99.8 kWh battery offering a range of 680 km for the Earth Long Range variant and 647 km for the GT-Line AWD. The battery juices up from 10 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes when using a 350 kW DC charging.

Dimensionally, the Kia EV9 measures 5,015 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width, and 1,780 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 3,100 mm. It boasts a ‘Digital Tiger Face’ with a ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille,’ vertical headlights, Star Map LED daytime running lights, and LED rear combination lamps. Among the other key highlights are 19-inch aero wheels (21-inch for GT-Line), retractable door handles, dual sunroof, a powered tailgate, and digital side mirrors.

The key interior highlights of the Thai-spec Kia EV9 - 

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen system
• 5.3-inch climate control segment display 
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity

• 180-degree rotatable 'swivel seats' in the second row (Earth Long Range)
• Ventilated Ottoman-style seats in the second row (GT-Line AWD)
• 14-speaker Meridian sound system
• Vegan leather seats

• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Electronic parking brake
• Vehicle-to-load functionality
• Digital centre mirror

Parts of the advanced driver-assistance pack are - Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Driver Steering Assist, Auto Evasive Steering Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Follow Assist, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Manual Speed Limit Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Driver Attention Warning, Finger Print Module, and Rear Occupant Alert.

When will the Kia EV9 come to Malaysia?

At present, there is no official information available regarding the arrival of the Kia EV9 in Malaysia. However, we can anticipate its launch sometime this year as Kia continues to expand its electric vehicle lineup across various markets.

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