The 2022 Busan Motor Show is currently in full swing and taking centre stage at the Kia booth is the Kia EV9 concept car.

First previewed at the 2021 Automobility LA, the EV9 concept is Kia’s first 7-seater full-electric SUV. Kia plans to put the concept car into production as soon as 2023.

Just like the Kia EV6, the EV9 is also built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). Measuring 4,930 x 2,055 x 1,790 mm in length, width, and height with a wheelbase of 3,100 mm, the EV9 has a wheelbase that can rival a standard BMW 7 Series.

Kia also revealed that the concept car is expected to have a targeted range of up to 482 km on one charge. The SUV is also equipped with a 350-kW ultra-fast charger that can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent within 20 to 30 minutes.

There is no mistaking the EV9 for anything else but a Kia. Resembling a giant Kia Soul, the EV9 features a new digital version of the Tiger Face façade.

Known as the Digital Tiger Face, engineers have designed the car to feature a full body colour panel with a new air vent design that reduces the car’s front-end weight and greatly improves aerodynamics.

Another design feature to improve aerodynamics are the retractable roof rails that close inward into the roof of the SUV when not in use. This helps create smoother airflow over the vehicle.

The EV9 also comes with a solar panel as an alternative source of energy to help charge up the batteries.

As mentioned earlier, the EV9 is Kia’s first 7-seater EV. The interior has three modes that allow the users to set up the interior according to the occasion.

There is Active Mode for when the car is on the move, Pause Mode will modify the interior into sort of a lounge area where the first row is rotated to face the back while the second row is folded into a table, and Enjoy Mode opens the tailgate and rotates the third row to face out.

Everything about the EV9 is made with sustainability in mind, even the materials used are sourced from recycled materials. The floor mat, for example, is made using recycled fish nets, while the seats and door trims are made from recycled plastic bottles.

Other than that, the leather used in the EV9 is all vegan leather while the dye used is water soluble so it is more environmentally friendly.

The Busan Motor Show will run from now until the 24th, the EV9 is just one of three cars that made its debut, other models Kia has debuted at the motor show include the new Kia Seltos and the Kia EV6 GT.