According to a report in the trade publication Automotive News, Kia plans to expand its U.S. model lineup next year with the addition of a new flagship sedan that will be positioned above the recently introduced 2014 Kia Cadenza. This ultra-spec 4-door will be based on the automaker’s largest and most comprehensively appointed model known as the K9 in Korea and sold as the Quoris in other markets. According to the AN story, this full-size, rear-drive range-topper will be called the K900 when it arrives here. It’s expected to sticker between $50,000 and $70,000. At this point, Kia execs have made no official public statements regarding the status of the vehicle. However, dealers were reportedly informed that the car would feature prominently in the company’s 2014 Super Bowl ad plans and likely go on sale in the second half of next year as a 2015 model.
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Introduced in mid-2012, the K9/Quoris shares much of its platform architecture with its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Equus. Riding on a 119.9-inch wheelbase, this posh sedan is wrapped in sleek, Euro flavored sheetmetal and features a driver-selectable adaptive air suspension as well as a full complement of active/passive safety and driver assist items from corner-following adaptive LED headlamps, radar-based Blind-Spot Detection and Lane Departure Warning to a four-camera Around-View Monitor system and Smart Cruise Control.
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That same kind of all-inclusive thinking extends to the K9’s leather-lined cabin which features a 12.3-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD instrument cluster, head-up display, primo 17-channel/17-speaker Harman Lexicon sound system and a rear-seat entertainment package with dual 9.2-inch monitors. The home-market K9 even has an executive-oriented VIP option that adds a heated/ventilated rear seat with a power reclining backrest, sliding cushion and extendable lower leg support on the passenger side.
According to AN, the K900 is expected to get its motivation from two high-tech engines: the 293-horsepower/3.8-liter V6 used in the Cadenza and the 429-horse/5.0-liter Tau V8 found in the Hyundal Equus. Both will be backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission.
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