Kia EV9 shown in final testing

Kia has officially teased its incoming all-electric Toyota LandCruiser rival by releasing images of a lightly camouflaged Kia EV9 undergoing final testing ahead of the flagship SUV’s global debut in the first quarter of next year.

Behind the lens-flaring wrap, the 2023 Kia EV9 looks almost identical to the concept of the same name that was unveiled at the 2021 Los Angeles motor show.

Up close, there are some detailed changes from the concept.

As expected, the rear doors are no longer hinged from the rear and there’s now a full set of conventional pop-out door handles.

It’s a similar story when it comes to a pair of conventional door mirrors, although it’s thought high-grade models could bag a set of rear-view cameras that will share their design with the concept.

Finally, the production car’s smaller (but still large) 21-inch wheels are shared with earlier engineering development mules we’ve seen testing, but the 4.9m length and extra-long 3.1m wheelbase all carry over from the concept.

The new Kia EV9 is based on the Hyundai Group’s e-GMP electric vehicle platform, which will allow for 350kW charging and should allow the full-size SUV’s battery to reach 80 per cent capacity in less than half an hour.

Versions with the biggest batteries should be able to cover up to 540km between top-ups, while a dual-motor powertrain should be able to deliver a rapid 0-100km/h sprint of around 5.0 seconds.

Kia says the latest images show the EV9 in the final stages of its verification program.

Based at the Korean car-maker’s Namyang R&D centre, the gruelling test regime sees the zero-emissions SUV tackle steep climbs, wade through deep water and traverse difficult terrain.

Kia says the EV9 was developed over 44 months, with the final stage of the all-new model’s gestation pushing it to the limits of its durability.

This includes being driven on a replica of the famous Belgian pave cobbled roads to hone both ride comfort and ensure nothing within the cabin is literally shaken loose.

Kia says that as well as being tested in Korea, the EV9 has already undergone further punishing testing regimes and locations across the globe.

Already on Kia Australia’s radar, the EV9 could land in Australia as soon as next year, with executives pointing to the second half of 2023.

It’s believed the Kia EV9 is currently being developed alongside the Hyundai IONIQ 7, which will share its architecture and powertrain.

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