Tuesday 28th February 2012

Kia K9 rear-drive flagship revealed

Yes, we know it looks like a 7 Series, but this is still a big deal for Kia...

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Look again: these are not pictures of a facelifted BMW 7 Series. They are, in fact, the first images of the new Kia K9, the Korean brand's first-ever rear-drive car.

Jokes about it looking like a certain luxury saloon from Bavaria aside, this is a hugely significant car for Kia, even if it isn't as dramatic looking as the Kia GT concept that the firm unveiled at last year's Frankfurt show.

"K9 is our first rear-wheel-drive large sedan, created without compromise in its design, driving performance and new technologies," says Soon-Nam Lee, Kia's Director of overseas marketing. "K9 sets a whole new level of standards and values in the large sedan segment, and its design will be another Kia demonstration of our brand's power to surprise the world."

As for what exactly that design, driving performance and technology entails we're not entirely sure, but given that the car's based on sister company Hyundai's Genesis. You can probably expect motive power in the form of a 3.8-litre V6, a 4.6-litre V8 and a 5.0-litre V8.

And if you're wondering about the name (no jokes about the national cuisine, please) the K9 sits above the K5, which we know as the optima and the K7, which export markets recognise as the Cadenza. So we expect the top-end Kia will get its own similar name when it gets an international launch later in the year.

One thing we can say with reasonable certainty about the K9 is that, despite its name, it's unlikely to be a dog... (Enough hound puns already - Ed)

See? nothing like a 7 Series...	...oh, wait...

[anonymous-user]

Like a 7 series but better looking!

[crofty1984]

MonkeyMatt said:

Like a 7 series but better looking!

Think I'd rather have this than a 7 series.
Well, I guess until resale time, but then again, my money's on it being significantly cheaper to buy in the first place.

[The Wookie]

Looks like a big of a dog to be honest..........

ETA - DAMN just read the article properly and was beaten to it, what a howler

[E38Ross]

How on earth can they get away with that design?!

[HeMightBeBanned]

Who cares how good it is. No one in the UK will buy one as it'll be a depreciation disaster in this market.

They'll flog bucketloads of them in the Far East and Australia though.

[0a]

Coming soon to a bargain barge thread near you...

[mogjay]

Massive jump from the old Kia pride

[SWoll]

5 posts and already 2 dog gags...

Come on guys, we can do better than that surely especially when the gag was already used in the OP?

I see 7 series front, 5 series rear, GS450 side profile (with quattroporte vents) and something Mondeo'ish about the lights.

All in all a nice looking car though, pity they wont sell any (in the UK anyway).

[H100S]

K9 = Dog?? Could have picked a better name for what appears a nice looking car.

Kia are doing well at the moment producing some great and good looking cars I cant help but feel they should stick to what they do best. Buyers in this market seem a bit to snoby for this type of badge. They want BMW, Jag, Merc and Audi. Others have tried and succeeded in making good cars with the wrong badge before such as the Vauxhall Omega and Skoda Superb. Even Toyota understood this by starting from scratch with Lexus.

Looks like the quality of Taxi will be getting better and better over the few years.

[mig25_foxbat2003]

K9!!!

Genuinely tickled me. Someone is having a laugh, aren't they...? Please say they are. That's the best name faux-pas since the (possibly apocryphal) Toyolet

[dave stew]

K9? Sounds tasty...

I wonder what their English speaking importers/dealers do? When I worked for Sharp Electrics, they wanted to bring in an 'ARS' prefixed product. We told them (as Sharp UK) why they shouldn't (Sharp USA didn't get it...)

They didn't use that moniker.

[mig25_foxbat2003]

And it's a shame because, having stopped giggling, I've gone back to have a look and it's not a bad looking bus. A bit derivative, obviously, but quite classy for a first attempt in this sector. But it will never live that name down. I think Jeremy Clarkson just exploded with happiness...

[ikarl]

I think Kia are moving in the right direction with their models.....probably the best looking 'range' out there excluding the 'exotics'

now, if they start coming up with some serious engines us PH'ers liked..

[Teggy_R]

Agreed, looks much better than the 7 series.

[kambites]

crofty1984 said:

Think I'd rather have this than a 7 series.
Well, I guess until resale time, but then again, my money's on it being significantly cheaper to buy in the first place.

I very much doubt that this will have worse residuals than the 7-series in absolute terms.

[Bebop Beru]

MonkeyMatt said:

Like a 7 series but mutt better looking!

[Stig]

E38Ross said:

How on earth can they get away with that design?!

Kia 'Tiger Nose' grill now well established by Peter Schreyer. Just happens to look like a Beemer Kidney in this iteration.

Dismiss Kia's at your peril. Great cars and getting better with every model release.

[Garlick]

I'll have one in 5 years, what a cracking used buy.

Looking forward to seeing these on the used market.

[Itsallicanafford]

...maybe whoever named it was thinking about what he was about to have for his tea?

[E30Addict]

I understand manufacturers having signature grilles to distinguish them, but Kia's attempt just doesn't seem to work with the rest of the car IMO.