Kia Announces Full Pricing And Range For EV9 Three-Row SUV
This week, Kia held its “EV Day” press event at its home in Seoul. Ahead of the first deliveries in the coming months, the South Korean automaker has released full pricing and driving range information for the 2024 EV9 SUV.
The Kia EV9 is one of the most highly-anticipated new electric cars going on sale this year, as it currently competes in a very limited segment — three-row SUVs. At the moment, the only other six- or seven-seat EVs are the Tesla Model X, Rivian R1S, and Mercedes-Benz EQS, which all occupy the luxury space. The EV9 aims to offer a premium value proposition compared to those rivals, while also taking on the large crop of popular gas-powered crossovers, like the Toyota Grand Highlander or Kia’s own Telluride.
As such, the EV9 sits on the higher end of the price bracket of the traditional SUVs, but starts significantly cheaper than the true luxury alternatives. Four trim levels will be available from launch: Light, Wind, Land, and GT-Line. Base MSRP for the rear-wheel-drive-only Light is $56,395, while the all-wheel-drive GT-Line tops out at $75,395.
Two motor configurations and two battery pack sizes will be offered. The base Light is available with either a 76.1 kWh pack or a 99.8 kWh pack, but can only be had with rear-wheel-drive as mentioned previously. Wind, Land, and GT-Line all feature the larger battery, and are all paired with e-AWD. All variants come standard with Kia’s industry-leading 800-volt charging capability, which will allow a 10-to-80 percent charge in about 25 minutes when using a 350 kWh DC fast charger.
The base EV9 Light also simultaneously offers the least and greatest range estimates of the lineup. The entry-level 76.1 kWh battery in the Light RWD is rated by the EPA for 230 miles of driving range, while the Light Long Range RWD with the 99.8 kWh battery achieves 301 miles. Wind, Land, and GT-Line all come in between 270 and 280 miles, respectively.
If these cost and capability numbers sound appealing, you can reserve an EV9 starting on October 16th for $750. Early reservation holders (those who get their deposits in by November 27th) will receive a “suite of gifts” with purchase including a complimentary three-year maintenance plan, a Webasto Go dual-voltage portable charger, and one year of “available digital features and services.” If you don’t make the cutoff, however, don’t worry — all EV9 purchases and leases will include 1,000 kWh of free charging at Electrify America.
Kia Concept EV3 Scales Down EV9’s Boxy Design
Kia clearly believes they have a hit on their hands with the robust, boxy design of its latest electric vehicles. As part of the EV Day press event, two new concept cars have been revealed, one of which is the EV9’s little brother, the EV3.
While currently just a concept, most of the EV3’s design appears to be production-ready, at least on the outside. That said, there’s plenty of interesting styling elements, including four-spoke wheels, squared-off wheel arch trim, and a floating C-pillar treatment towards the back. Size-wise, the EV3 is best compared to a Hyundai Kona or Kia Seltos.
Luckily, the interior brings back the traditional concept-car touches. Aside from the typical unique color choices, one standout feature is the folding rear seat. Whereas most crossovers include split-folding seatbacks for extra cargo space, the EV3 offers a fold-up bottom cushion similar to a pickup truck. Since the floor is completely flat, it provides a significantly taller storage space than the rear cargo area.
Up front, between the seats lies a console table made of mycelium, a fungus-based material that’s apparently growing in interior-study popularity for its eco-friendliness. The rest of the cabin is pretty light and airy, with a minimalist dashboard and two large screens housed under one bezel. Below that, there’s also the strangest climate vents in the industry, which use a number of tiny jets moving individually to control airflow.
Since it’s just a concept, Kia has not released any powertrain specs, range projections, or pricing details. Considering how focused Kia is on the electric future, we likely won’t have to wait too long to find out more information. The EV3 has also not officially been announced for the US market, but that once again seems pretty likely.
Kia Concept EV4 Is A Wild Take On An Electric Sedan
When is a sedan no longer a sedan? Well, once it becomes a Jaguar I-Pace or the new Kia Concept EV4. Revealed as the final part of Kia’s EV Day, the EV4 is marketed as a “Millennial Lifestyle Vehicle,” because we all know millennials love overly-targeted products.
Kia says the EV5 is intended to appeal to first-time EV buyers who want aspirational luxury and cutting-edge technology, but might find the existing EV6 or other alternatives too safe for their tastes. As such, the EV5 shares its angular design and boxy silhouette with the upcoming EV9 and Concept EV3, but blurs the line between sedan, hatchback, and crossover all at once.
The interior design is also remarkably similar to the EV3, with thin seats, a two-spoke steering wheel, the same over-engineered climate vents with tiny individual jets, and what appear to be side-hinged pedals. The cabin space is once again super minimalist, light, and airy, as well as completely leather-free (as Kia says all of their future electric vehicles will be.)
In typical concept car fashion, no driving-related information has been revealed just yet. It’s also unknown whether the EV5 will end up being sold in the US, but Kia has said a $35,000-50,000 price range is being targeted. Much like the EV3, we suspect we won’t have to wait too much longer for more details, but either way, Kia certainly has tons of interesting stuff in the pipeline.
Jaguar Continues To Send Off F-Type With Limited ZP Edition
As is the trend nowadays, the Jaguar F-Type gasoline-powered sports car will be discontinued in 2024 to make way for upcoming electric models. However, the brand is certainly not in a rush to say farewell, revealing a second “final-edition” sendoff model.
Following up on the 75th Anniversary Edition, the heritage-inspired F-Type ZP Edition serves as the final hurrah, with super limited production and color schemes from historic Jaguar E-Type race cars.
“As Jaguar embarks on the boldest transformation in its history, to become a modern luxury all-electric brand from 2025, this is an unrepeatable celebration of Jaguar’s internal combustion sports car provenance,” said Jaguar’s managing director Rawdon Glover. “F-Type has captivated sports car drivers for more than a decade, just as the E-Type did five decades before it. The ZP Edition is the ultimate celebration of that lineage.”
Only 150 units of the ZP Edition will be built before production ends next year. Production will be evenly split between coupe and convertible body styles, and only two color combinations will be available. The first consists of an Oulton Blue exterior with with a red and black interior, while the other is a Crystal Grey (almost white) paint paired with navy blue leather.
Both designs feature white roundels on the doors, similar to the liveries found on the series of restored E-Types that Jaguar Classic released earlier this year. Other special touches include white grille surrounds, and “ZP” badges for the wheels, fenders, side sill plates, and dashboard. There will also be a plaque on the inside denoting the cars as 1 of 150.
All ZP Editions will be driven by the F-Type’s most powerful engine configuration, a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 putting out 575 horsepower, and paired with all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed ZF automatic. Pricing begins at ￡134,925 for the coupe and ￡138,390 for the convertible, or roughly $165,000 in USD.
BMW’s Funky X2 Gets Redesigned And Looks… Interesting
The original BMW X2 was billed as a sportier, more stylish alternative to the X1, but the previous iteration remained more similar to a regular crossover or hatchback in design. For 2024, the X2 has been fully redesigned inside and out, and takes on a more performance-oriented position than before.
Compared to the larger X4 and X6, the X2 takes on a similar coupe-like shape but is very different in appearance from the crossover on which it’s based. From the sharp angles to the chunky fastback rear end, there’s definitely no mistaking it for an X1 going down the road. Surprisingly, it manages to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.25, making the X2 slipperier than the 2 Series coupe. The M35i model, as pictured above, sports unique fascias and quad exhaust tips out back — one for each cylinder.
As expected, all X2s in the United States are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; European markets will get diesel and fully electric options. The base xDrive28i produces 241 horsepower and will take the X2 from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, while the M35i xDrive receives a bump to 312 horsepower and sprints to 60 a full second quicker. Torque is identical for both models, at 295 pound-feet. Both versions are also paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and all-wheel-drive.
In contrast to the exterior, the X2 is very clearly based on the X1 when you step inside. The focal points of the dashboard are the infotainment and gauge cluster displays integrated together under a single curved piece of glass, as well as the unique air vent layout. The M35i version features alcantara-clad seats with light-up M logos, large paddle shifters, and a red 12-o’clock marker on the steering wheel. Non-M Sport models will come standard with vinyl upholstery which BMW proudly calls “animal-free Veganza.”
As with most new cars, the new X2 comes standard with a wide range of driver assistance and connectivity features. Outside of the typical, there are in-car video games from gaming platform AirConsole, as well as a built-in interior camera that can take photos and record videos — a nice addition for rideshare or delivery drivers versus having to rely on a separate dashcam.
Pricing is as-yet undisclosed, but should start in the mid-$40,000 range, slightly above the X1. US deliveries are scheduled to start in March 2024.
Tesla Now Offering Color And Clear PPF Wraps For Model 3/Y
Tesla has long been known for offering fairly basic and limited color choices on its cars. While they’ve changed slightly over the years, many owners may be tired of seeing identical Solid Black or Pearl White Multi-Coat Model 3s next to theirs every time they park at Whole Foods.
Vinyl wrapping is nothing new in the auto industry, but Tesla is now one of the first to offer wraps directly from an automaker. As of this week, Model 3 and Model Y owners can now order seven different colors (as well as clear film) from the Tesla app or website. For $5,000, you can purchase the transparent PPF wrap; monochrome choices (Satin Ceramic White, Satin Stealth Black, and Slip Grey) are $7,500; and actual colors (Crimson Red, Glacier Blue, Forest Green, and Satin Rose Gold) will run $8,000.
Per their website, Tesla is using “self-healing urethane-based film” for these wraps — also known as paint protection film — rather than vinyl. PPF is thicker and supposed to last far longer, making it quite a bit more expensive. The good news is, the listed prices include both materials and installation, and the wraps cover all painted surfaces of the vehicle, including door jams and panel gaps.
While the cost may seem astronomical to some, quick research shows that full-car PPF wraps are actually similarly priced from third-party installers. As of now, Tesla has not announced these wraps for the Model S or Model X, but will likely do so in the future if demand is strong enough with this initial release.
2024 Subaru WRX TR Turns “Tuner-Ready” Into “Already-Tuned”
In 2006, Subaru released a special version of the WRX known as the TR, or “Tuner-Ready.” It was a stripped-down model intended for buyers to modify. It lacked many features of the regular WRX, but came in at a much lower price point.
For 2024, Subaru is bringing back the TR moniker, but in a very different way. The current-generation WRX will not be receiving an STI version as most have, and therefore the TR is being positioned as an upgraded model featuring key upgrades that many buyers typically look for or add.
Up front, the standard brakes have been replaced by six-piston Brembo calipers (with two-piston in the rear) as well as larger pads, rotors, and a larger brake master cylinder. The springs are stiffer, and the damping rates have been recalibrated. With the addition of a retuned steering rack, Subaru says the TR has significantly better body control and steering response, while still maintaining ride quality. Satin grey alloy wheels wrapped in 245/35/R19 Bridgestone tires round out the handling upgrades.
While the last TR was spartan inside, the 2024 comes standard with Ultrasuede Recaro bucket seats up front. Surprisingly, the seats are eight-way power adjustable, but the power moonroof has been removed for weight savings. Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance technology is also present, and has finally been reprogrammed to allow adaptive cruise control with the manual transmission.
Speaking of the manual transmission, it’s paired with the 2.4-liter flat-four engine which puts out 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, just as it does in the standard WRX. Luckily, the CVT automatic transmission will not be offered on the TR.
Also in contrast to the original, the 2024 WRX TR is expected to be the range-topping trim in the lineup. Pricing has not been released, but look for a base MSRP a few thousand dollars above the $45,000 WRX GT.
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