After Kia’s first three-row electric SUV is already seeing strong demand, the EV9 is set to gain a high-performance GT version. Kia confirmed the EV9 GT will launch in January with “enormous power” and other upgrades.

Kia EV9 set for the GT treatment

Kia launched its flagship EV9 in Korea last June. In less than a month, Kia sold over 1,334 EV9 models and another 1,251 in July.

After announcing US prices start at $54,900, Kia called the EV9 a “wake-up call” to the industry. In the first three months of 2024, Kia has sold over 4,000 EV9s in the US.

Kia has been teasing a high-performance GT trim since its debut, but CEO Ho-Sung Song confirmed it will launch in January during its CEO Investor Day presentation.

The EV9 GT will build on Kia’s first high-performance electric vehicle, the EV6 GT. Kia unveiled the EV6 GT in 2022, its most powerful vehicle so far.

With 576 hp, the EV6 GT can hit 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. To prove it, Kia put it up against a Ferrari Roma and Lamborghini Huracan EVO, and it beat both off the line.

Powered by a 77.4 kWh battery and a dual motor powertrain, the EV6 GT generates 576 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque. Starting at $61,600, the EV6 is cheaper and quicker than most sports cars.

Song confirmed the EV9 GT will launch in January, promising “enormous power” with a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) time in 4 seconds.

An AWD, high-output dual-motor system will offer quicker acceleration. It will also include a reinforced suspension and electronic braking for better stability at high speeds.

Next-gen affordable Kia EVs

Kia also confirmed it will focus on affordable electric cars, aiming to become an EV leader by the end of the decade.

Song confirmed Kia will launch six new mass EV models in major markets. Kia revealed the new models, including the EV2, EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October.

The EV5 already launched in China, starting at around $20,000 (149,800 yuan). It will cost around $46,000 (70,000 AUD) in Australia.

Kia will launch the EV3 by the end of this year. The EV3 features the best of the EV9, including design and tech, in a smaller and more affordable package.

Like Kia’s EV9, the EV3 includes Kia’s new design theme, including a sleek new “Tiger Face” grille. We’ve seen several prototypes out testing as it nears its official debut. The EV3 is expected to start at around $30,000.

The EV3 will be followed by the EV4, expected to launch next year. Kia’s EV4 is the brand’s take on an entry-level electric sedan.

Kia will introduce two specific EVs in emerging markets, including the Carens EV. By 2026, Kia aims to sell 587,000 mass-market EVs or 66% of its total sales.

Kia also revealed it will be strengthening its hybrid lineup as it works to introduce new EV models into key markets.

Song said although EV demand is lower than expected in the short term, long-term forecasts remain unchanged. By 2030, Kia aims to sell 1.6 million EVs. Kia’s CEO also revealed it will cancel two large-size EVs as it focuses on smaller, more affordable models.

Mazda unveiled two new EVs, the EZ-6 electric sedan and the Arata SUV, at the Beijing Auto Show. Although Mazda’s new EVs are for China, they are what the brand is missing in the US.

Mazda’s first EV in the US, the MX-30, was discontinued after only 66 models were sold last year. It was only on the market for about two years.

The MX-30 was clearly a compliance vehicle, sold only in small numbers in California. Now, there are zero all-electric Mazda’s sold in the US. Despite the lack of success in the US, Mazda looks to take on the world’s largest EV market.

Changan Mazda, a joint venture between Mazda and Chinese state-owned Changan Auto, unveiled two new EVs as it looks to compete with BYD, Tesla, and others in the region.

“Going forward, Mazda will continue to work with Changan Automobile to turn Mazda’s China business around by introducing its unique products that meet the needs of Chinese customers,” Mazda’s CEO Masahiro Moro explained at the event.

Meet Mazda’s new EZ-6 and Arata EVs

The Mazda EZ-6 is the first EV in the series, scheduled to launch by the end of 2025. Mazda’s new electric sedan will likely replace the Mazda 6.

Although the EZ-6 is likely powered by Changan’s tech, the exterior design is clearly a Mazda. The automaker says the new EV combines Mazda’s design language and signature drive performance with Changan’s advanced EV and smart technology.

It features a 50:50 weight distribution, front strut and rear multi-link suspension, and an electric rear spoiler for improved stability at high speeds.

Inside, Mazda’s EZ-6 features zero-gravity front seats, a Sony sound system, and a wireless phone charger. It also features intelligent parking tech and voice control.

Two versions will be available: a pure electric and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version). Although no powertrain details were released, it’s expected to have around 372 miles (600 km) CLTC driving range. The PHEV version is expected to achieve over 621 miles (1,000 km).

Meanwhile, the Mazda Arata concept. The electric SUV will be the second EV of the series, scheduled for mass production by the end of 2025.

Mazda’s Arata includes its “SOULFUL + FUTURISTIC x MODERN” design theme. It also features Mazda’s signature design blended for the Chinese market.

Now, Mazda needs to bring the new EVs to the US. Would you consider Mazda’s new EZ-6 or Arata electric SUV? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Tesla Autopilot finds itself once again under NHTSA investigation after the agency is now doubting the effectiveness over the 2-million vehicle “recall” last year.

As you may remember, Tesla and NHTSA announced a new “safety recall” of all Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot in North America last December.

The recall marked the conclusion of the NHTSA’s years-long investigation into crashes of Tesla vehicles on Autopilot into stopped emergency vehicles on the highway.

The “fix” to the “recall” is again an over-the-air software update.

In the defect notice, Tesla made it clear that it doesn’t agree with NHTSA’s findings of improper driver monitoring leading to these accidents, but it agreed to add more warnings and alerts when drivers are using the Autopilot features – hence the recall.

Now, a few months later, NHTSA seems to be having doubts about how effective the recall has been after new crashes have been reported and the agency was made aware of some concerns about the “remedy”.

NHTSA decided to open a new investigation. It wrote in the notice:

Tesla filed Recall 23V838 to address concerns regarding the Autopilot system investigated in EA22002. Following deployment of the remedy in Recall 23V838, ODI identified concerns due to post-remedy crash events and results from preliminary NHTSA tests of remedied vehicles. Also, Tesla has stated that a portion of the remedy both requires the owner to opt in and allows a driver to readily reverse it. Tesla has also deployed non-remedy updates to address issues that appear related to ODI’s concerns under EA22002. This investigation will consider why these updates were not a part of the recall or otherwise determined to remedy a defect that poses an unreasonable safety risk.

The agency says that the new investigation covers all Tesla vehicles in the US with Autopilot – just over 2 million vehicles.

Electrek’s Take

The original recall always felt like a compromise. The fact that Tesla didn’t agree with NHTSA’s findings and that the actual recall mainly consisted of mild increases in alerts looked like significant compromises on both sides.

Now, it looks like NHTSA is trying to push further.

I’m not sure what they mean by drivers having to “opt-in”. It might be due to some owners not having accepted the driver monitoring through the cabin camera? They would have to approve it to enable any change to the driver monitoring through the camera in the first place.

Honestly, the driver monitoring through the cabin camera is fairly strong now. You can’t look away from the road for more than 3 seconds without getting an alert. There’s an unfortunate way to bypass that, which I don’t want to popularize even though it’s widely known.

That might be part of what NHTSA is investigating now.