An electric Ram pickup truck with up to 500 miles of range per charge and a battery-powered people-hauling Kia SUV were among the new vehicles being introduced at the New York International Auto Show.
The two debuts in New York April 5 were among only nine automaker press conferences, far short of previous years. Many of the have been rolled out previously as automakers move away from auto shows and introduce new products virtually.
The Ram 1500 Rev joins pickups from Ford, General Motors, Rivian and Lordstown Motors in a field that鈥檚 growing increasingly crowded. Tesla is supposed to start selling its long-awaited Cybertruck later in the year.
The Ram looks more like the current gas-powered model than a more futuristic concept vehicle the company showed off in January. But it鈥檚 full of new technology.
The Rev will come with a choice of two battery packs, the standard one with up to 350 miles of range and an optional larger pack with an expected range of 500 miles.
The company says it also can tow up to 14,000 pounds and carry 2,700 pounds in its bed. The 654-horsepower truck also can travel from zero to 60 mph (97 kilometres per hour) in 4.4 seconds, exceptionally quick for a vehicle that size.
Stellantis, which makes Ram vehicles, says the all-wheel-drive Rev can add up to 110 miles of range in about 10 minutes with a 350 kilowatt fast charger. The truck also is capable of powering worksite tools, sending power back to the grid or powering a home during an outage, the company says.
It鈥檚 built on a new frame designed specifically for larger electric vehicles.
The truck isn鈥檛 due in showrooms until the fourth quarter of 2024. The price will be announced closer to the on-sale date.
Ram hasn鈥檛 announced where the electric truck will be built, but says under current rules, it should qualify for a $7,500 U.S. electric vehicle tax credit. To qualify, vehicles must be assembled North America. Also a certain percentage of battery minerals and parts must come from the U.S. or free trade partners.
Kia鈥檚 new EV9 is a little longer than the automaker鈥檚 popular gas-powered Telluride, and it can seat up to seven people in three rows of seats.
The EV9 comes with two powertrain options, a standard battery and rear-wheel-drive, and an optional larger battery that鈥檚 expected to go 300 miles on a charge. All-wheel-drive also is an option.
Kia says the dual-motor GT line comes with 379 horsepower and can go from zero to 60 mph in five seconds. The battery can be charged from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in under 25 minutes at a fast-charging station, Kia says.
The EV9 will hit U.S. showrooms late this year, and it鈥檚 expected to be built at the company鈥檚 plant in West Point, Georgia, starting next year. The automaker says it鈥檚 reviewing requirements and doesn鈥檛 know yet whether it will qualify for the $7,500 tax credit.
The EV9鈥檚 price will be announced closer to the date it goes on sale.
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