The three-row Kia EV9 was one of the most awarded electric vehicles in the past year, taking wins at the World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle and Favorite Plug-in Vehicle in addition to numerous design awards. Kia is now upping the ante, debuting a zippier version of the model, the 2025 Kia EV9 GT.

The GT badged model gets more power and technology including the first-for-Kia Electronically Controlled Suspension and the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port that fits at a Tesla Supercharger. It also uses an advanced new virtual transmission. That hardware is complemented by a sportier design and new elements inside.

The 2025 Kia EV9 GT comes with 21-inch wheels and high-performance, low-profile Continental tires. It also has the racy neon green brake calipers from the smaller EV6 GT and a new lighting pattern for the pixelated LED headlights called “Energetic.”

“The EV9 GT can build on Kia’s efforts to have performance-oriented variants across the lineup, and the performance variant of a battery electric vehicle reflects that buyers do want powerful, engaging performance from electric drivetrains as they do gasoline-powered drivetrains,” Stephanie Brinley, associate director of AutoIntelligence at S&P Global, told Newsweek.

Brinley notes that in the EV6 range, from January through September 2024, about 5 percent of the EV6 models registered were the GT version, according to S&P Global Mobility US light-vehicle registration data. She also said that the GT version presumably has a higher margin than the standard car and contributes to creating excitement around the model line.

The changes to the inside of the EV9 GT are inventive as well with bright green accents matching the calipers on the seats, steering wheel and elsewhere. New sport bucket seats are trimmed with Alcantara suede and embossed GT logo to stand out in the dark gray and black interior.

Similar to other SUVs the EV9 GT has two 12.3 inches screens, one as a digital driver cluster and one as a touchscreen infotainment system. Kia notes that content and features like ambient lighting can change and improve with over-the air updates. Creativity comes in with the button panel under the screen that disappears when the vehicle isn’t on leading to a much less busy look.

The EV9 GT comes standard with all-wheel drive from electric motors on the front and rear axles. The front is a 160-kW motor and at the rear is a 270-kW unit. Combined, they make an estimated 501 horsepower (hp), which is a 122-hp increase from the already quick EV9 GT-Line. Kia says it’s targeting a zero-to-sixty time of just 4.3 seconds.

Kia has implemented technology from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in this new model. Owners can set shock damping, steering and brake feel. And, like a true sports car, it comes with a special mode, named GT here, which sets everything to its most aggressive setting with one button press.

The Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) simulates the experience of a regular “stepped” automatic transmission. It can be used in automatic mode where it will increase and decrease acceleration like a normal vehicle, or with paddle shifters located on the steering wheel that simulate shifting. Kia says that its electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD) works in concert with VGS to replicate the sounds of the gear shifts as the vehicle accelerates.

An electronic limited-slip differential continues the sporting changes, helping with corner stability as it sends power to the necessary side of the rear axle.

Like the Kia EV9, the GT has an 800-volt architecture for fast charging and can recharge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 25 minutes. Kia has not released the SUV’s expected all-electric range.

A full suite of advanced driver assistance systems are included with technology such as Smart Cruise Control-Curve, which slows the vehicle down to remain comfortable around expressway curves and the new Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that warns the driver of pedestrians or objects when parking and intervenes with the brakes.

“The GT versions do not necessarily increase sales volume. There may be some buyers who step in because of the GT, but the more likely scenario is that it is an EV9 intender who chooses to more powerful option, which is good for the vehicle’s image and the automaker’s bottom line,” Brinley said.

The 2025 Kia EV9 GT goes on sale next year. Kia didn’t reveal the price yet but it will surely be higher than the top EV9 GT-Line model, which starts at $73,900 before destination or EV tax credits.