After all the releases, awards, test drives, and satisfied
customers here each spring at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis, we have also become
used to the various terms that surround new releases and upgrades. When a
“flagship” model is released, we know that it needs to be segment-leading,
representative of amazing things to come, and downright sensational. The new 2024
EV9 is a flagship of an altogether different kind, capable of fast charging
its battery up to 70% in under 30 minutes.
We have carefully and expertly made our way up the ladder as
a brand that became focused on the future of electrification, and a very
sustainable and memorable global impact. During the 2023 New York International
Auto Show last week, the new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit was met
with adoration and excitement. Taking Kia’s software game up to a distinguished
and much-appreciated notch, it boasts infotainment updates, wireless upgrades
for bug fixes, new feature releases, and better battery optimization.
OTA updates are guaranteed to become a very crucial
technology for new cars in the coming years, offering customers innovative
extras such as autopilot upgrades, and as amusingly distracting as holiday
light shows. Now that consumer behavior has emerged into a pattern of ownership
that can last ten years or more, they can keep things always appealing even if
brand new purchases aren’t as frequent. This new system has already received
praise for its excellent processing power, which allows for lightning-fast
scrolling speeds, more shortcuts to key functions, and revised graphics.
Even as the future offers so many opportunities to improve
ownership experience, some old habits may be traditionally tough to break. Kia
does not have intentions to do away with Apple CarPlay integration or Android
Auto, and those two very popular features will simply need a wired connection.
These exciting new OTA updates will also open many ways to personalize your
car, which provides many opportunities for drivers to display a unique
reflection of their taste.
One of the CCNC system’s other first amazing appearances was
in the 2024 Hyundai Kona, which is expected to go on sale alongside the EV9
during the fourth quarter of this year. One of the first reactions from auto
experts on the scene regarding the EV9 is that the cabin is very clean-looking
and airy, and the placement of switches close to the driver was appreciated. The
staff on duty at the Electrifying.com blog rated the EV9 as “sure
to steal sales from prestige brands such as Land Rover”, and the ability to
swivel the middle row of seats to face the back row was a surefire head-turner.
The front end still possesses Kia’s signature “Tiger-nose”
graphic, along with a very awesome optical illusion with the vertical headlamps
allowing for a visually wider stance. At the very heart of the interior is
where there’s a long, slightly curved screen, with a sightline that is ideal
for the driver’s gaze. As far as the recent move towards environmentally
friendly engineering, the EV9 goes proudly without leather and boasts interior
plastics built from recycled materials. The range is estimated to be around 336
miles, and with the Kia Connect Store, customers will be able to tap into their
entrepreneurial spirit and sell electricity right back to the grid.
