Kia has recently announced its latest release, the EV9, in a live-streamed world premiere. This highly anticipated three-row electric SUV is set to hit the market later this year and is said to be the most digitally advanced Kia to date, featuring a range of high-tech features. Among these, the automaker is promising the introduction of Level 3 autonomy through its Highway Drive Pilot (HDP) system.
This Level 3 technology is defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers as conditional “hands-off” automation, where the vehicle is in control in certain scenarios, but the human driver must be ready to intervene if required. Only a few automakers, such as Mercedes and Honda, have commercially available Level 3 systems in limited numbers.
Kia’s HDP system is facilitated by 15 sensors, including two lidars, that scan for objects in a 360-degree field of view. Kia says that HDP will be offered on GT-line models “in the future” and will allow the “driver to temporarily take a break from controlling the vehicle.” This means that the EV9 will be able to drive itself on highways at certain speeds in markets where there is regulatory approval.
To complement HDP, a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) will also be available on the EV9. This includes Remote Smart Parking Assist 2, which allows the EV9 to park itself even when the driver is not in the vehicle, and Ultrasonic sensors are employed to detect obstacles, and the tech controls the accelerator, brakes and gearshift to maneuver the Kia into a space.
The EV9 will also feature navigation-based Smart Cruise Control for higher speeds and Highway Driving Assist 2 for lane changes. Furthermore, Kia is promising a range of up to 336 miles from the seven-seater on the road, which will be available with rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrains.
As the most digitally advanced Kia yet, the EV9 will provide owners with access to the Kia Connect Store, offering a wide array of options. This allows customers to “keep their EV9 constantly updated by upgrading the digital features and services without any need to take the vehicle to a dealership.” Among the available extras are a new lighting pattern for the car’s dramatic digital grille and even an extra 100 Nm of torque for a more dynamic driving experience.
Additionally, Kia has introduced a first for the automaker, the Digital Key 2, which uses Ultra-Wide Band technology to allow users to open and start the EV9 with their smartphone.
The EV9 is set to make its physical debut at the Seoul Mobility Show in late March before arriving in showrooms in South Korea in the second quarter. It is slated to appear at the New York International Auto Show in April before going on sale in the United States in the second half of 2023, with prices expected to start at just under the $60,000 mark.
