Is America ready for a full-size Kia? We will find out soon enough.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - May 3, 2012
A quick look at Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer’s work on the exterior of the all-new K9. It is big and brash. And it is no wonder given Kia’s penchant for taking on new segments with the bravado like no other company in the industry.
Kia's all-new luxury flagship sedan went on sale in Korea today and is set to power the brand into an entirely new segment in Asia, North America and Europe.
The K9 is Kia’s first modern RWD vehicle using its own platform while combining stylish interior and exterior design cues with luxurious comfort, engaging driving dynamics and advanced features.
As a large RWD vehicle, the K9 boasts a long wheelbase which gives a generous first impression. As the engine sits further back, the A-pillar is also pushed back to create a longer hood and shorter front overhang.
In addition, the K9 provides distinctive window graphics accentuated by a chrome inlay providing a premium look.
With a 200 in overall length and a gargantuan 119.9 in wheelbase, the K9 offers more than generous front and rear occupant space. Overall width and height are 74.8 in and 58.7 in, respectively, which does not just creates a spacious cabin, it is a spacious cabin while efficient aerodynamics provide a very competitive Cd of just 0.27.
Kia’s Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer:
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The K9 is about elegant simplicity, balanced proportions and simple surfaces. The class-leading long wheelbase, the large wheels, sharply upright short overhangs and a long sweeping shoulder line all work together in a harmony to give K9 a sporty, athletic proportion and a confident stance quintessential to a premium large rear-wheel drive vehicle.”
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V6 mated to an eight-speed AT
Initially, K9 will be available in overseas markets powered by an upgraded 286 HP 3.8L V6 3with a 329 HP direct injected 3.8L available next year.
The normally aspirated twin DOHC 3.8L is equipped with dual continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) and a variable intake system (VIS).
Every K9 arrives with Ki’s all-new eight-speed automatic transmission. The wide spread of gear ratios guarantees brisk acceleration and high-speed refinement, while shift-by-wire (SBW) technology with a joystick control delivers fast, smooth gear changes.
Four driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow) enable the driver to choose a preferred set-up of suspension, steering, engine and transmission ideal for various road conditions or driving styles.
Advanced new features
When it arrives here in the US, the K9 will premiere a range of advanced luxury features and technologies including fully adaptive all-LED headlamps, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), radar-based Blind-Spot Detection (BSD) and an Around-View Monitor (AVM) with four cameras.
Premium comfort features include a 12.3-inch full size Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD cluster, a HUD (head-up display), twin 9.2-inch monitors to entertain rear seat occupants and a remarkable 17-channel, 17-speaker Lexicon (by Harman) sound system and Smart Cruise Control (SCC) which adjusts the vehicle’s speed to maintain the distance from the vehicle ahead.
Known as the 'K9' in Korea, the new flagship sedan will have a different name in overseas markets – to be revealed closer to its on sale date.
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