Kia unveils potent GT version of its EV 9 electric SUV – with synthesized gear shifts and fake engine noises

• The new Kia EV9 GT will sprint from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds
• GT button unleashes full power, firms suspension and makes noises happen
• It’s the first Kia SUV to receive electronically-controlled adaptive suspension

While this year’s LA Auto Show has been disappointingly bereft of exciting new launches, Kia chose it as the platform to showcase the upcoming EV 9 GT – a model that will delivers 501hp from twin electric motors and a 0-60mph sprint time of just 4.3 seconds… despite weighing 5,886lbs (or 2.6-tonnes for imperial fans).

Based on the enormous, three-row electric SUV that was released late last year in some markets, the GT version, which will go on sale in 2025, sees a 160kW motor drive the front wheels and a 270kW motor bolted to the rear.

It’s tipped to use the same 100kWh battery as the Long Range model, which can manage around 300 miles on a single charge when driven sensibly.

But driving sensibly won’t exactly be the order of the day, as Kia has introduced a very tempting and very shiny GT button to the steering wheel that firms up the suspension, thanks to the introduction of electronically-adjustable dampers, sharpens the steering and throttle response, while adding more heft to the brake feel.

Not purely a straight-line drag champion, Kia says the EV9 GT will be able to handle the twistier routes and disguise some of its planet-like mass with clever calibration of the suspension and steering. Customers are also treated to heavily bolstered sports seats and flashes of ‘GT’ throughout the cabin.

The brake calipers have also been sprayed in a fetching neon green, similar to the Kia EV6 GT, while the electronic Limited Slip Differential (e-LSD) from that model, which senses a loss of traction at each wheel and reduces torque for improved handling, has also been borrowed and implemented.

The final party piece is what Kia refers to as Virtual Gear Shift (VGS), which simulates the thumps of a traditional step-shift automatic transmission and is operated by paddles mounted to the steering wheel.

To compliment this, Kia has also been…