Niels van Roij sees courage and character
Where the EV6 is soft and rounded, the EV9 goes in a less sympathetic direction. The carriage is very distinctive, with surefire, pointed creases and a tough, sculpted character. Although the car is not as extreme as the Tesla Cybertruck, it has a strong hint of cyberpunk about it. This flagship is an authentic SUV with a bold character. Car designer Niels van Roij is looking into whether the outspoken mastodon is also a good design move.
The Opposites United Kia’s design philosophy, which focuses on combining contrasting qualities and finding synergies within them, has been explicitly deployed for the Kia EV9. The new electric Kia is brutalist drawn with original aesthetic finds. Exceptionally surprising details make the body unique when viewed from all directions. Distinctive surfaces and pronounced graphics consistently return in all their resoluteness: the shape spectrum of the diagonal cut-offs of the wheel arch surrounds, around the D-pillar, headlights, taillights and the bottom of the doors is repeated.
The unusually shaped 19 to 21-inch wheels also fit seamlessly with the Opposites United design philosophy. In addition to the modernistic hardness, the EV9 is also refined. That cannot be said about the Tesla Cybertruck. The EV9 features clean, pure surfaces and special transitions between the surfaces.
The side view looks decidedly large, with its unique upright profile that nevertheless appears quite streamlined in practice. This solid and monolithic look gives the SUV an extremely capable appearance.
Kia EV9 remains refined, a BMW XM does not
Outspokenness and self-confidence can also degenerate into a lack of sophistication. The question of whether appearing in the news has a higher priority than helping the brand in the long term – one that has long been present at BMW Design – apparently also shines through with the EV9 due to the unusual solutions. A BMW XM (design review will follow soon) is very impressive, but does not look very intelligent. That can by no means be said about the EV9. That car is both strong and refined.
The powerful, minimalist skin has extended, triangular wheel arches. The wide fender profile is innovative, especially at the point that brings together two contrasting volumes. The triangular wheel arch transitions into a completely flat shoulder. A shoulder so flat it’s reminiscent of the Volvos of the ’80s. These cars had an equal curve from roof, through DLO, over the door skin, to the sill. This solution is very rarely used on modern cars, as there is a risk that the side may appear flat and fragile. With the EV9, the flatness is canceled out by the heavy fenders. Rightfully Opposites United.
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Kia EV9
The front is a creative expression with minimal airflow openings and the vertical headlights that branch over the EV9 face. The pièce de résistance, however, can be found further inside the nose: LED pixels, depending on the version, return in the plastic part of the Digital Tiger Nose!
There is a daytime running light on the outside of the unit, large LEDs on the inside of the main part of the headlight and, as an option, the decorative element within the semi-transparent part of the bumper painted in body color can also be equipped with LEDs. . This outstanding graphic has never been applied to a production car.
Very distinctive, daring, full of character and original. Kia clearly still has a leading role in car design.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl