LA MOTOR SHOW: Flagship Kia Concept EV9 SUV emerges

The Kia Concept EV9 has been officially revealed ahead of its public debut at the Los Angeles motor show that's held from today.

Following on from the Kia EV6, the much bigger Kia EV9 is the second Kia to be based on the Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that helps it achieve a range of more than 480km.

Created under Kia's new 'Opposites United' design language, the Concept EV9 measures in at 4930mm long, 2055mm wide, stands 1790mm tall and boasts a wheelbase that's 3100mm long.

To put those figures in perspective, the big EV9 is just 30mm shorter than a Toyota LandCrusier 300 Series, but 85mm wider, while featuring a wheelbase that's a substantial 250mm longer than the tough new Toyota off-roader.

Significantly lower than the LandCrusier (-180mm), the Kia EV9 is expected to perform much better within the wind tunnel than a traditional SUV, despite its blocky styling.

To boost its range there's a restyled take on the brand's Digital Tiger Face that incorporates a vent designed to reduce the frontal mass.

Retractable roof rails that can be raised at the touch of a button, plus rear-view cameras instead of mirrors, are said to radically reduce drag to enhance the range.

Solar panels on the bonnet area, meanwhile, also boost the range while parked and on the move.

Almost undoing all that clever air bending, the next Kia EV model to arrive in the line-up rides on huge 22-inch rims.

Claimed to be inspired by water, the exterior paint is said to mimic the deep ocean while the cabin has ambient lighting and other coloured elements that are said to replicate the clear blue sky.

As predicted, the Kia EV9 gets an ultra-wide 27-inch display to operate the infotainment, climate control and media.

Hinting at advanced fully autonomous driving aids, there's a pop-up steering wheel that cleverly looks like just the rim folds flat when not in use.

The generous wheelbase is what affords the flagship SUV a third row of seating and plenty of space on board.

Said to incorporate the car-maker's latest cabin thinking, there's three modes for occupants within the EV9's spacious interior.

The first is an Active Mode, which arranges the seats for driving, but there's also a Pause Mode setting that is claimed to replicate a first-class lounge. This involves opening the full panoramic roof blinds and allowing the seats in the first row to swivel around to face the third row. The second row, meanwhile, folds to become a table.

The third Enjoy Mode allows the third-row occupants to swivel 180 degrees to allow them to fully appreciate the tailgate-open views.

Sticking to a sustainable theme inside, the flooring and seat fabric is made from recycled plastics and re-used wool fibres. Vegan leather, instead of animal hides, is also used.

Beneath the cabin, the Concept EV9 packages a battery that features the brand's latest EV tech that allows it to be topped up using a 350kW charger. At that rate, the batteries can be replenished from 10-80 per cent in a claimed 20-30 minutes.

No performance claims have been offered, but it's thought the EV9 will borrow its powertrains from the Kia EV6.

That means there will most likely be two batteries on offer, a 58kWh battery pack and a larger 77kWh unit.

Both a two-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive version are expected, with the latter flagship 4WD version producing 239kW/605Nm.

Commenting on the latest EV, Kia's global design boss Karim Habib said: “The Kia Concept EV9 is yet another important marker for us in what has been an incredible journey since the start of the year.

"Having made our intentions clear – to become a global leader in sustainable mobility solutions – today we are proud to show the world our all-electric SUV concept, which fuses together an advanced zero-emissions powertrain, a cutting-edge exterior design and a contemporary and innovative tech-based interior space.”