Kia Teases Two SEMA Concepts, Including an EV9 with Light Bars

Nov 06, 2024

The automaker also teased a second concept with similar lighting elements that looks like a version of the electric PV5 van.

As aftermarket suppliers and custom builders prepare to flock to Sin City next week for the annual SEMA show, Kia today teased a couple of concepts that it plans to reveal. While anyone familiar with the electric three-row Kia EV9 will recognize one of them, the other concept is much less recognizable, except maybe for people who remember what Kia revealed earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Circling back to the EV9 concept (pictured above), the most obvious difference between it and the production model is all the new lighting elements. Along with a light bar that is mounted above the windshield, there are three individual lights on the SUV's snout. The extra lighting is similar to the aftermarket parts that off-roaders and overlanders bolt onto their vehicles. A closer look at the EV9 concept also shows what appear to be font tow hooks, which definitely are not found on models in showrooms. Could this be an off-road-oriented EV9, possibly an X-Pro variant? Stay tuned.

While we didn't immediately recognize the Kia in the second teaser photo (shown above), its unique front lighting signature jogged our memory. At last year's CES, Kia unveiled a modular electric van that's expected to launch sometime next year. The concept that will debut at SEMA looks to be a version of the PV5. Still, other than the addition of a rooftop light bar and lower fog lights, we'll have to wait until next week to find out what other goodies this Kia concept has to offer.

Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si.

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