Kia’s first rear-wheel drive large sedan is the new K9. Although its name reminds of the police segment where dogs are being used, it doesn’t have anything to do with it. The only reason the name is how it is, is because it is part of the K series, and is an upgrade to the K7 (also known as the Cadenza) and the K5 (sold as the Kia Optima). The only problem we have with this car is the fact that it looks painfully similar to BMW’s luxury sedans.
According to Soon-Nam Lee, Kia’s Director of overseas marketing, the K9 is built without compromise in its design, performance and new technologies. There are going to be three engines that buyers will have to choose from. The first and least powerful one is the 3.8-liter V6. The second and third are both V8s with a cylinder capacity of 4.6-liter and 5.0-liter respectively.
This car is based on Kia’s sister company’s model, the Hyundai’s Genesis. Thanks to this fact, we could consider Soon-Nam Lee to be right in terms of new technologies to be offered in the K9. The performance will most likely be outstanding, as it’s being provided by three remarkable engines.
Kia hasn’t released too much info on this car. They did get us some pictures, and the fact that the new K9 will become Kia’s flagship, but other than that we will
have to wait and see.
