Kia Reveals Full Details on EV9, Reshaping SUV User Experience

But what is the price?  That is the question.

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

But what is the price?  That is the question.

Common sense is we will get the pricing info close to the date of opening up for pre-orders. Right now comparing what is in this EV compared to the few others on the market, it appears to be a very competitive product.

1 hour ago, David said:

Common sense is we will get the pricing info close to the date of opening up for pre-orders. Right now comparing what is in this EV compared to the few others on the market, it appears to be a very competitive product.

I know the price will come later.  It looks like a good product I agree, but if they want $50k for an EV6 which is a Sportage size vehicle, is this $75k, $85k?  It is 2 size classes bigger, the Sorrento size EV would have to slot in the $60-70k range.

I don't see the path forward for Kia if they are priced above where Cadillac is now with similar sized vehicles, unless the price of these EV's comes way down.  

15 hours ago, David said:

Common sense is we will get the pricing info close to the date of opening up for pre-orders. Right now comparing what is in this EV compared to the few others on the market, it appears to be a very competitive product.

Common sense? You mean the price question he asks for everyone else but one manufacturer?

14 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I know the price will come later.  It looks like a good product I agree, but if they want $50k for an EV6 which is a Sportage size vehicle, is this $75k, $85k?

How about we actually wait on the price before delving into your analysis about what car is worth what money (again, for every brand but one)?

The only thing known is that early estimates have it around $55K for the base model. That is it. Nothing more.

@surreal1272 Why Does price even matter at this point if someone who has been following the auto industry has any common sense.

GM, Kia/Hyundai are on record stating that the early adopters will probably pay a much higher price than those that end up buying a year or two later. This is due to the fact that economy of scale will drive down costs.

The only thing folks need to be looking at is the details of how a model in a certain segment competes against other models in that same market segment on features.

An example would be that Polestar a very unknown brand is doing a road show and they are seeing what the public reaction is to the stated features and msrp of a product for their Polestar 3 SUV. They are aiming at the performance of the auto not entry level. If folks are fine with the price, they will sell if people like what they see. If they do not get the positive reaction from people or the pre-orders, they will have to adjust their price to sell.

This is the common sense that seems to be missing from some. 

You are right that many media are estimating the starting price for the EV9 at $55,000

2024 Kia EV9 Price, Pictures, Release Date & More | Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)

Edmunds seems to be at the high end with a starting price of $60,000

2024 Kia EV9 Prices, Reviews, and Pictures | Edmunds

1 hour ago, David said:

Why Does price even matter at this point if someone who has been following the auto industry has any common sense.

That's exactly my point in regards to the same person who always asks the same question, at this stage of development, and then speculates when he doesn't get the answer he wants (even when it's just not there at the time) while knocking any price point he perceives to be "too high" because in encroaches on Mercedes territory (oh the over-compensation issues here lol). This "analysis" goes for EVERY brand not coming from Daimler. That's my issue here.

1 hour ago, surreal1272 said:

That's exactly my point in regards to the same person who always asks the same question, at this stage of development, and then speculates when he doesn't get the answer he wants (even when it's just not there at the time) while knocking any price point he perceives to be "too high" because in encroaches on Mercedes territory (oh the over-compensation issues here lol). This "analysis" goes for EVERY brand not coming from Daimler. That's my issue here.

Over Compensation issue is what we called little man syndrome when you saw little guys buying and driving the H2 Hummer when it first came out. 

I like to call the Over Compensation crowd the Chicken bone size issue. 

18 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I know the price will come later.  It looks like a good product I agree, but if they want $50k for an EV6 which is a Sportage size vehicle, is this $75k, $85k?  It is 2 size classes bigger, the Sorrento size EV would have to slot in the $60-70k range.

Mercedes charges 75k for a vehicle that's identical to their 57k vehicle. 

20 minutes ago, David said:

Over Compensation issue is what we called little man syndrome when you saw little guys buying and driving the H2 Hummer when it first came out. 

True but it also applies to Luxo snobs. Same principles.

I wonder if there will be a Genesis version of this EV9 anytime soon after the KIA EV9 is released.

41 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

I wonder if there will be a Genesis version of this EV9 anytime soon after the KIA EV9 is released.

Genesis has released their GV60 EV which is being produced here in the U.S. and said that all models up through the GV 90 EV will be coming as they expand to support EV production in the U.S.

6 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Mercedes charges 75k for a vehicle that's identical to their 57k vehicle. 

And they need to get their EV cost down too.  Especially since their ICE vehicles seem better than the EV ones in style and interior.  And the cowl is too high on EQS and EQE.  They need to sort all that out as soon as possible, but Audi and BMW have high prices too.  

11 hours ago, smk4565 said:

And they need to get their EV cost down too.  Especially since their ICE vehicles seem better than the EV ones in style and interior.  And the cowl is too high on EQS and EQE.  They need to sort all that out as soon as possible, but Audi and BMW have high prices too.  

So it's more of an "everybody has an issue" type of thing, right? 

The only truly reasonably priced EVs are the Bolt, Bolt EUV and Leaf. Everything else is pretty insane for the size of vehicle you're getting. 

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

So it's more of an "everybody has an issue" type of thing, right? 

The only truly reasonably priced EVs are the Bolt, Bolt EUV and Leaf. Everything else is pretty insane for the size of vehicle you're getting. 

The funniest part is how he thinks the high cowl on the Jellybean twins is the only issue with them. 

39 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

The funniest part is how he thinks the high cowl on the Jellybean twins is the only issue with them. 

I think that leads to the jellybean styling though so, I kind of agree with him there. 

While it isn't the entire issue with their aesthetics, I think it's a big part in how it's all shaped together. 

If you brought that down it would look much more S Class-like, which I think everybody agrees is an attractive shape. 

Also, sorry for the garbage drawing on the EQS, I can't smoothly navigate a mouse to draw for the life of me. Hahaha

15 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I think that leads to the jellybean styling though so, I kind of agree with him there. 

While it isn't the entire issue with their aesthetics, I think it's a big part in how it's all shaped together. 

 

If you brought that down it would look much more S Class-like, which I think everybody agrees is an attractive shape. 

Also, sorry for the garbage drawing on the EQS, I can't smoothly navigate a mouse to draw for the life of me. Hahaha

 

 

I will agree to disagree because the entire shape is the problem to me and most folks out there, apparently. Nothing about the exterior design screams “best or nothing”. And the entire rear three quarter resembles the S Class about as much as a jellybean resembles an S Class (it doesn’t). Just slimming down the hood does not help it look anything like the S Class. Two completely different designs. 
 

But back to the EV9…

12 minutes ago, surreal1272 said:

I will agree to disagree because the entire shape is the problem to me and most folks out there, apparently. Nothing about the exterior design screams “best or nothing”. And the entire rear three quarter resembles the S Class about as much as a jellybean resembles an S Class (it doesn’t). Just slimming down the hood does not help it look anything like the S Class. Two completely different designs. 
 

But back to the EV9…

Yeah, the rear pretty much has the same exact issue going on.. 

It just sucks to look at. That's disappointing to me because I'm on board with EVs and I've pretty much loved the S Class since 2000.. but their blend of those two things is just horrible. 

@surreal1272 @ccap41 @smk4565

Todays press release for the EV9 is pretty much a release of what I covered here in the story, but they did add the following to the press release.

INTRODUCING THE 2024 KIA EV9: MODERN REFINEMENT AND ALL-ELECTRIC CAPABILITY ESTABLISH A NEW INDUSTRY TOUCHSTONE (kiamedia.com)

EV9 Availability
The EV9 is expected to debut in the U.S. in Q4 2023, and it is expected to be assembled in West Point, Ga., beginning in 2024, making it the first Kia EV to be assembled locally.* Pricing, timing for U.S. market availability, specific trim details, and EPA-rated AER for the EV9 are subject to future announcements.

This pretty much tells us that in Q4 of 2023 we will get pricing on their first made in America EV.

5 hours ago, David said:

@surreal1272 @ccap41 @smk4565

Todays press release for the EV9 is pretty much a release of what I covered here in the story, but they did add the following to the press release.

INTRODUCING THE 2024 KIA EV9: MODERN REFINEMENT AND ALL-ELECTRIC CAPABILITY ESTABLISH A NEW INDUSTRY TOUCHSTONE (kiamedia.com)

EV9 Availability
The EV9 is expected to debut in the U.S. in Q4 2023, and it is expected to be assembled in West Point, Ga., beginning in 2024, making it the first Kia EV to be assembled locally.* Pricing, timing for U.S. market availability, specific trim details, and EPA-rated AER for the EV9 are subject to future announcements.

This pretty much tells us that in Q4 of 2023 we will get pricing on their first made in America EV.

I thought they would assemble it in South Korea.  Good thing they are building it here instead.

6 hours ago, ccap41 said:

I think that leads to the jellybean styling though so, I kind of agree with him there. 

While it isn't the entire issue with their aesthetics, I think it's a big part in how it's all shaped together. 

 

If you brought that down it would look much more S Class-like, which I think everybody agrees is an attractive shape. 

Also, sorry for the garbage drawing on the EQS, I can't smoothly navigate a mouse to draw for the life of me. Hahaha

 

 

The drag coefficient difference on those 2 cars is .02 and the S-class is more aerodynamic than a Prius or Tesla Model 3.  The jelly bean isn't needed, they already had a good looking, aerodynamic car, just make it electric, and that car is long as hell, lots of space to put batteries laying flat.

57 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

I thought they would assemble it in South Korea.  Good thing they are building it here instead.

Have to get that tax credit.

1 hour ago, riviera74 said:

I thought they would assemble it in South Korea.  Good thing they are building it here instead.

Assembly here for the IRA tax credit. Cannot compete if they produce it in Korea or Japan.

@ccap41 @surreal1272 @Drew Dowdell @oldshurst442 @Robert Hall @regfootball @trinacriabob @NINETY EIGHT REGENCY

EV9 is out and about testing on U.S. roads showing that it is coming close to going into production and sales.

IMHO it is a good looking SUV and a clear take on the high side of Mid-size SUV.