Engineers from Kia have been noticed testing a prototype for what’s prone to be an EV9 GT.

GT is the designation Kia makes use of for high-performance variations of its electrical autos, the primary and solely instance of which is the present EV6 GT.

The EV9 GT was confirmed final yr by Kia CEO Ho-Sung Tune, who mentioned the car is due in early 2025. The timing suggests we’ll see the EV9 GT arrive as a 2026 mannequin within the U.S.

The prototype in our spy pictures appears like an atypical EV9 within the GT-Line grade, a grade that boasts distinctive entrance and rear fascias, in addition to 21-inch wheels, amongst different upgrades. Nonetheless, a better inspection reveals bigger brake rotors in addition to lime inexperienced paint on the rear brake calipers. The identical lime inexperienced coloration is used as an accent on the EV6 GT, together with on its brake calipers.

2023 Kia EV6 GT

The EV9 went on sale late final yr as a 2024 mannequin, and the highest efficiency choice at the moment accessible for the three-row mid-sizer is a dual-motor powertrain rated at 380 hp. Kia mentioned this will hustle the EV9 to 60 mph from relaxation in beneath six seconds as customary and simply 5 seconds with an accessible Enhance perform that Kia sells individually through its new Kia Join Retailer app retailer.

The EV9 GT will possible ship significantly extra efficiency. As a clue of what is potential, the EV6 GT comes with a dual-motor setup rated at 576 hp, and efficiency that features a 0-60 mph time of three.4 seconds.

The EV6 GT additionally advantages from chassis upgrades that embody sport-tuned suspension with adjustable dampers, an digital limited-slip differential, upgraded brakes with monoblock calipers, efficiency tires, and distinctive drive modes. Related upgrades ought to make their means onto the eventual EV9 GT mannequin.

Earlier than the arrival of the EV9 GT, Kia will introduce an up to date EV6, and the updates to that mannequin can even seem on the EV6 GT.