Kia K9

Kia K9 (KH)
Kia K9
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia
Also called	Kia Quoris Kia K900 (United States and Canada)
Production	2012-present
Model years	2013-present
Assembly	Gwangmyeong, South Korea Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor)
Designer	Peter Schreyer
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Platform	Hyundai BH-L (VI)
Related	Hyundai Equus Hyundai Genesis
Powertrain
Engine	3.3L Hyundai Lambda II Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) V6 3.8L Hyundai Lambda II V6 3.8L Hyundai Lambda II RS GDI V6 5.0L Hyundai Tau GDI V8
Transmission	Hyundai Powertech 8-Speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,045 mm (119.9 in)[1]
Length	5,095 mm (200.6 in)
Width	1,900 mm (74.8 in)
Height	1,490 mm (58.7 in)
Curb weight	1,870 kg (4,120 lb) (3.3) 1,910 kg (4,210 lb) (3.8)
Chronology
Predecessor	Kia Amanti/Opirus (U.S. & Canada/Worldwide)

The Kia K9 is a full-size luxury car made from South Korean automaker Kia Motors. It replaces the Kia Opirus in the Korean market, and will sit at the top of the Kia range above the Kia K7/Cadenza. The K9 was launched in South Korea in May 2012, with export sales expected towards the end of 2012. As of June 2013, the car is available in South Korea (as the Kia K9), the Middle East, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, Russia (as the Kia Quoris),^[2] United States, and Canada (as the Kia K900). There are plans to release it in China; however, Kia will not use the Quoris name.^[3]

Detail

Kia K9 (South Korea)

The K9 is a derivative of the BH-L (VI) platform shared by the Hyundai Equus and Genesis. It is the first rear-wheel-drive sedan Kia offered in the United States.^[4] The K9's development code was KH.

The K9 is slightly shorter than the Equus, but has a more aggressive, sporty stance as well as a longer wheelbase with shorter front overhang dimensions. Kia's "Tiger nose" grill has been adopted in the front fascia design. It implements some new technologies to a KIA car like Blind spot assist, Head Up Display and an advance Adaptive Front Lighting System.

Launch engines in Korea include a 300 PS (221 kW; 296 bhp) 3.3L (3342cc) V6 and a 334 PS (246 kW; 329 bhp) 3.8L (3778cc) GDI direction-injection V6,^[5] coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Quoris debuted in Russia in 2013 with a 294 PS (216 kW; 290 bhp) 3.8L V6.^[6]

The K900 in the US uses a 426 PS (313 kW; 420 bhp) 5.0L (5038cc) GDI V8, producing 376 lb·ft (510 N·m) of torque.^[7] In Canada, the K900 can be fitted with either a 315 PS (232 kW; 311 bhp) 3.8L GDI V6, producing 293 lb·ft (397 N·m) of torque or the same 5.0L GDI V8 as the US market.

Kia GT Concept

Kia GT Concept
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia
Production	2011 (Concept car)
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	3.3 L turbocharged V6
Transmission	6-speed automatic

Kia GT Concept

The K9 was previewed in 2011 with the public showing of the Kia GT concept car from the South Korean automaker Kia at the Frankfurt Motor Show. As with the K9, the GT is a 4-door, rear-wheel-drive sedan but featuring suicide doors and a 390 bhp (291 kW; 395 PS) 3.3-litre turbocharged V6 with a 6-speed automatic transmission.^[8]

Marketing and sales

To promote the K900, Kia Motors released their Super Bowl XLVIII commercial, featuring Laurence Fishburne reprising his role as Morpheus from The Matrix series.^[9] On October 2014, basketball player LeBron James was named Kia's K900 luxury ambassador.^[10]

Despite the aggressive marketing, the Kia K900 has struggled in sales, having sold only 200 units per month during its first four months in the U.S. market. Sales dropped further to 100-130 units in July and August 2014, and then to 50-60 in September and October.^[11]

References

1. Kia K9 specifications
2. "Edmunds Inside Line". Retrieved 4 October 2014.
3. Carscoop Carscoop. "Legal battle over Quoris name". Carscoops. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
4. "Kia reveals all-new ‘K9’ flagship sedan for Korean market". Kia Motors. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
5. Kia SOuth Korea website
6. "Sales of Kia Quoris Sedans to Kick off in March". Wroom.ru. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
7. "The Top-of-the-Range Kia K900". AutoTrends. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
8. Top Gear. "Top Gear 13 September 2011". BBC Top Gear. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
9. Estrada, Zac (2014-01-28). "Kia's The Matrix Super Bowl Ad Sells A K900 With Morpheus And Two Keys". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
10. "Basketball global superstar LeBron James is Kia's luxury ambassador". Top Gear Philippines. 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2014-10-16.
11. Lopez, Jose Antonio (2014-11-17). "Kia K900 Not Working in the United States". The Korean Car Blog. Retrieved 2014-11-18.

External links

• K900 website (U.S. model)