Kia has a new luxury flagship model – the V6 K9 sedan just launched in Korea. While Kia says the new model will be exported, there are no plans for Kia Australia to include it in the local lineup.
While Australia misses out, the big picture with the K9 (to receive other names in export markets) is its demonstration of Kia’s design and engineering prowess.
Technology and luxury features are impressive – mark-down a four-camera ‘Around-View Monitor’, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning as well as a 12.3-inch thin film transistor (TFT) instrument cluster and 17-channel, 17-speaker Harman Lexicon entertainment system.
Power comes from a 213kW 3.8-litre V6 petrol engine or a 245kW 3.8-litre diesel – both driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with shift-by-wire technology and joystick operation.
Elegantly designed by Kia German styling guru Peter Schreyer, the Kia K9 affords limousine-style interior space thanks to its 5090mm overall length and 3045mm wheelbase. A chauffer-drive model provides two individual heated/ventilated/reclining rear seats.
