THERE'S A GOOD REASON WHY THE WHEELS ON THE KIA EV9 ARE SO WEIRD
- Kia EV9 has won multiple awards for its exceptional electric propulsion system, versatile interior, and standout design.
- Kia's design language evolution began with the EV6, leading to a more unified lineup with the EV9 as a major departure.
- Unique features like Star Map lighting and aerodynamic wheels, along with an open, airy interior, make the EV9 a standout in the market.
The Kia EV9 is a three-row electric SUV that’s ideal for families. It’s the flagship of the brand, earning multiple awards, including the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, 2024 World Car of the Year, and 2024 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year Supreme Winner. A car doesn’t win that many major awards unless it’s truly exceptional, and the EV9 does deliver an exceptional experience with an efficient electric propulsion system, versatile interior, and standout design.
2024 Kia EV9
Kia flew us to Korea for the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show where we had the chance to speak with Teck-Koun Kim, Vice President and Head of Kia Next Design Group. He and his team are responsible for not just the EV9 but the full Kia EV range. He spoke with us about the evolution of Kia's design language and how what we see today will impact the Kia lineup for years to come.
It All Started With The EV6
The EV9 is striking, something that catches your attention rather than just blending in with the sea of other three-row SUVs on the market in the US. It’s part of a reinvigorated Kia lineup that started with a much smaller EV.
"The EV9 obviously was a big change, another chapter for Kia Design philosophy since we relaunched our brand in 2021, but EV6 was the first one."
Look at the Kia lineup today and you can see that change. It wasn’t a subtle thing but a major departure that makes newer Kias look almost like they’re a separate brand. While there’s something of a design disparity today, as new vehicles launch and existing models are updated, the lineup will gradually become more unified. It's an evolutionary process, and for proof, look no further than the Kia K4, which will replace the Forte from the 2025 model year.
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The change was necessary in part due to the move from gas to electric, something Kia remains committed to even as the pace of EV sales growth slows. It was important that these new vehicles reflect a new Kia. “We discussed what kind of character we had to deliver from Kia, especially for the United States market, because the Telluride is one of the most successful SUVs in the States. It was a very important consideration.” Making the next generation of Kia vehicles required not simply doing as well as they did with Telluride but improving upon it and moving the brand image forward.
One of the more striking features of the EV9 is its Star Map lighting, which differentiates this SUV not just from other vehicles, but from other Kia models. “When you look at the K5, for example, we called the lighting a Heartbeat with this strong signature graphic. We launched the K8 with signature lighting that we called the Star Cloud. It was inspired by the night sky,” Kim said.
"We discussed what was going to be next for our signature lighting and that's how we came up with Star Map graphic. Its a great combination thats technical with dynamic movement and inspired by nature."
It's All In The Details
Even the wheel designs were carefully selected. "One of the challenges on EV wheels is the aerodynamic efficiency. We cannot really make a lot of holes with a typical traditional spoke-oriented design," explains Kim. "The more closed, the better the aerodynamics. That was one challenge."
"But we wanted to use that challenge as an opportunity to create something completely different to traditional wheel design."
They didn’t leave that design to chance and even created a dedicated wheel design team. They came up with geometric shapes that meet the aerodynamic requirements for an EV while adding unique visual appeal.
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It's a combination of details like lighting and wheels along with larger elements, like the open, airy interior of the EV9, that make it such a standout. “I think the importance of the interior space, the concept of the space, is more important on EV platforms because we want to deliver a different customer experience inside. It’s also the advantage of EV platforms,” we're told. The lack of an engine lets automakers do things in different ways. Outside, you get things like a frunk where there would usually be an engine. Inside, you get open spaces you won’t find in gas vehicles.
"We have more flexibility compared to combustion engine platforms, so that we can really enhance the actual physical space. This open, welcoming interior space concept is what we want to pursue on all our EVs, not just EV9."
It’s most obvious on a big vehicle, but even smaller models like the EV6 and new EV3 benefit from this approach.
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We put Kim on the spot and asked him for his favorite design element of the EV9, and his answer summed up the direction of the design team. "One thing? That's really difficult!" he said, but then a moment later had us all step back to take in the vehicle's full profile. "My favorite element of our EV design is the side view. The overall character is an upright, authentic SUV feeling, but then there's the gentle surface of the hood. That kind of contrast that you can see, that's what I really love," he said with a warm smile. "That silhouette defines Kia's design direction and shows our design philosophy."