The Kia EV9 has won the prestigious 'Best of the Best' Red Dot Award in the category for cars and motorcycles.
The award is recognition of the unique design and innovation that the car represents. This award, given only to the most outstanding designs, confirms that Kia has created something special with their first electric flagship SUV.
Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, said: “With the EV9, we have created an electric vehicle with a bold and true SUV character that sets new standards for both design and functionality.
Receiving the 'Best of the Best' at the Red Dot Design Award is a great honor for Kia's design team and our global colleagues. It reflects our ongoing commitment to developing innovative and inspiring products."
The Red Dot jury noted Kia's 'Opposites United' design philosophy, which underlies the EV9's unique combination of futuristic design and responsible values. The idea of bringing contrasts together to create a harmonious whole is at the heart of this philosophy. This approach has allowed the Kia designers to create a product with a sharp yet gentle aesthetic.
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The car's design exudes a sense of self-assurance and calm with its distinctive lines, slim shapes and clean surfaces. Elements such as the Digital Tiger Face, Digital Pattern Lighting Grille and the vertical headlights contribute to the modern and visionary expression that is characteristic of the EV9.
Kia's focus on responsibility and sustainability is also seen in the EV9's design. The flagship SUV was the first model to follow Kia's three-step sustainability strategy, which includes phasing out animal leather, using recycled materials in all new models and researching natural and bio-based fabrics.
The upcoming Red Dot Award ceremony will take place on 24 June 2024 at the Aalto Theater in Essen, Germany, where the Kia EV9 will be honored as the 'Best of the Best'. The award marks Kia's 29th victory at the Red Dot since 2009 and follows a number of other accolades, including several iF Design Awards 2024, where the EV9 also received a 'Gold Award'.
Since its launch in 2023, the Kia EV9 has received praise and recognition from several other award ceremonies. The flagship SUV won, among other things, 'World Car of the Year' and 'World Electric Vehicle of the Year' at the World Car Awards 2024.
In addition, it has received awards such as 'Women's World Car of the Year 2024', 'German Luxury Car of the Year 2024', 'Golden Steering Wheel 2023', TopGear.com 'Family Car of the Year 2023', 'UK Car of the Year 2024' , and 'North American Utility Vehicle of the Year 2024'.
