In the Korean language, it’s called Obangsaek, a five-colour spectrum consisting of black and white, plus blue, red and yellow. Translated, Obang means ‘five direction’, saek means ‘colour’. The colours are said to symbolise the traditional five elements of Korean culture – wood, fire, earth, metal, water.
Not surprisingly, Obangsaek influences the country’s carmakers, Hyundai and its affiliate Kia. Lots of Hyundais are coloured red or blue. Red represents fire, blue can mean wood. Lots of Kias are red and blue, too. Yellow also features strongly in Kia’s colour palette. Yellow means earth. It can also mean wealth.
But it’s not only about the colours. “It’s also about the psychological approach, what the colour means,” says Ivana Hrudkova, a colour specialist at Hyundai. “It’s the deep thinking behind the choice.
“Korean culture and its heritage has a really rich history. You can see a lot of softness and the uniqueness of its craft heritage, Buddhism and the spirit of resilience combined with creative innovation.”
It is not yet known what colour options Kia will offer when it unveils its new flagship, the all-electric EV9, in New Zealand later this year. But they are not expected to be much different from those of the EV6 range: blue, black, white, red, or variations of each with fancy names.
For the moment, Kia has released a handful of official images of its largest EV, a twin to the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 7. Later this month it will tell the automotive world more about the EV9.
Vital things like its power outputs, likely to offer between 149kW and almost 300kW, depending on rear-wheel-drive models with single motors and all-wheel-drive with dual motors.
There’ll be more about battery packs, electric motors, and its 800-volt architecture. More on the range of the different variants, expected to vary between 380km and 480km. More too on connectivity, or bringing more of the internet to the car.
The EV9 is similar in shape to the boxy concept, first seen two years ago. It is built on the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and remains a blend of SUV/people mover.
The blunt front and rear ends are pretty much the same as the concept, but Kia has modified other earlier features like door handles and wing mirrors.
What is clear is EV9 will come with the choice of six or seven seats. The second-row in the six-seater will swivel by 180 degrees to face the third row, offering occupants a mobile executive boardroom of sorts. The first and second-row seats can also recline.
There are two 12.3-inch screens up front, divided by a 5.0-inch touchscreen for air-conditioning controls. One of the screens is for instruments, the other for infotainment. The centre console has cupholders and a wireless charger for smartphones. The gear selector is a stalk on the steering wheel.