Kia’s EV9 Pickup: A Miserable Design or a Future Success?

What if Kia’s electric SUV EV9
had a pickup truck version?
Virtual rendering sparks discussion

Based on Mohave, Kia is developing the body-on-frame type pickup truck Tasman (project name TK1). It is said to have a tough appearance unique to pickup trucks and high reliability and durability, raising consumer expectations.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group does not yet have a pickup truck made on an electric vehicle platform. What if an electric pickup truck using EV9 was launched? Although it is unlikely that someone has translated this imagination into a rendering, it has become a hot topic.

Sporty and tough exterior
The aggressive front end catches the eye

Foreign media outlet Hot Cars released an expected EV9 pickup truck rendering. Overall, it resembles the EV9, but several differentiating factors attract attention. The headlamps are similar to those of the EV9, and more aggressive styling has been applied to the grille area and front bumper. The vertical duct located in the front bumper is used for brake cooling.

In the case of the skid plate at the bottom of the front, it wraps around both edges to create a wider feel. In the case of the side part, a tough and sporty look coexist. Instead of the unique wheels of the existing EV9, 6 twin-spoke wheels were applied. As an electric vehicle, the brake system visible inside the wheel creates a relatively small feeling.

The rear end emphasizes simplicity
What is the expected size of the cargo bed?

In the case of the rear part, only the essential elements were included, as expected from a pickup truck. The rear window has been removed from the existing EV9’s tailgate and is naturally connected to the cargo area. The shape of the tail lamp, divided into three sections at the top, bottom, and center of the car body, was transformed into a simple single line. However, in the case of the tailgate, buttons, and levers for opening and closing are not visible.

The rear bumper’s shape is also simpler than before. If actual mass production is being considered, steps to both corners of the bumper would be appropriate. The media adopted a double cab layout for the EV9 pickup truck but expected the interior length of the cargo box to reach 5 feet (approximately 1,524 mm).

Electric pickup trucks are also in the work
Targeting a 2027 launch

The media said, “If the EV9 pickup truck provides the same 5,000-pound (about 2,270 kg) towing capacity as the SUV model and applies 180-degree swivel seats, it will sweep the pickup truck market.” Meanwhile, Kia plans to release the Tasman in 2025 and launch an electric pickup truck based on a dedicated platform in 2027. Whether the new car will be a pickup truck version of the EV9 remains to be seen.