Manufacturer Kia Model years 2013-present | Production 2012-present Designer Peter Schreyer (2009) | |
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Also called Kia Quoris (international)
Kia K900 (United States and Canada) Assembly Gwangmyeong, South Korea
Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor) | ||
The Kia K9 is a full-size luxury car made by 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), United States, and Canada (as the Kia K900). There are plans to release it in China; however, Kia will not use the Quoris name.
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Detail
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. 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, 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.
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. 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.
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. On October 2014, basketball player LeBron James was named Kia's K900 luxury ambassador.
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.