Autobayng News Team
- The 500-hp Kia EV9 GT was supposed to officially debut in the U.S. by the end of 2025, but now it may not debut at all.
- Car and Driver reached out to Kia, which confirmed the model had been postponed until further notice due to “changing market conditions.”
- It would have cost over $80,000, which is a hard sell in a world with no tax credits and potential import duties.
Kia was supposed to launch a hot GT version of the EV9 in the United States before the end of 2025. This top variant was supposed to have around 500 horsepower, drop the sprint time to just over 4 seconds and offer sporty visual touches to go with the extra performance. However, the EV9 GT won’t debut this year, and it’s now unclear if it’s ever coming to the U.S., due to “changing market conditions.”
Since the EV9 GT’s announced launch window was drawing to a close, Car and Driver reached out to the manufacturer, which confirmed it had been “delayed until further notice,” just like the EV4 sedan. That may mean it’s not coming, since the U.S. luxury electric car market is cooling and selling expensive EVs is harder than it used to be, especially after the end of the $7,500 federal tax credit.
Tariffs may also play a role here. While both Hyundai and Kia manufacturer their high-volume EVs in the U.S., their performance products tend to come from Korea. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are both built in the U.S., but if you want a hot Ioniq 5 N or EV6 GT, it’ll come from Korea. If Kia planned the same split for the EV9, it’s possible that the 15% tariff on imported South Korean cars made the plans unworkable.
Photo by: Kia
The EV9 GT was expected to cost around $10,000 more than the most expensive current variant, the EV9 GT-Line, which costs $71,900. Kia likely thinks an even more expensive variant would not sell well enough to justify putting it on sale, especially since buyers in this segment probably don’t see the point in paying extra for an adjustable rear limited-slip differential, bigger brakes or better tires.
Kia also gave the EV9 GT electronically controlled suspension (ECS), which could make the car stiffer or softer depending on the driving mode, and it likely would have simulated a combustion engine, just like the revised EV6 GT, which was the first Kia to get this feature, inspired by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
More aggressive bumpers, different wheels and green-painted brake calipers completed the list of exterior modifications. Inside, a sporty three-spoke steering wheel with a center mark, sportier seats with big side bolsters and green detailing let you know that you were looking at the top-tier GT.
It’s unclear if this applies to the rest of the world, because Kia began taking orders for the EV9 GT in some markets. The UK order books opened in June, and the model was priced at £82,185 ($108,000), but we don’t know if customer deliveries have started. In the U.S., some dealers apparently received GT demo vehicles, but there are no driving videos or reviews of the car anywhere, just some static walkaround videos from the U.S. and Canada.
Whether that changes is an open question; Tariffs, emissions regulations, tax policy and consumer demand all factor in. But if you were waiting for an EV9 GT, it may be a good time to start looking at other options. More Kia EV News We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Insideevs.com? – The InsideEVs team
