Kia K9
The Kia K9, marketed as the Kia K900 in the United States and Canada and as the Kia Quoris in other export markets, is a full-size[1][2] luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by Kia Motors, now in its second generation.
| Kia Quoris/K900/K9 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Kia Motors |
| Also called | Kia K9 (South Korea) Kia K900 (United States and Canada) Kia Quoris (Other export markets) |
| Production | 2012–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car (F) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (2018–present) |
The K9 was launched in South Korea in May 2012, with export sales beginning in late 2012. As of June 2013, it was sold in South Korea, the Middle East, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Peru, Russia,[3] the United States, and Canada. There are plans to release it in China, although Kia will not use the Quoris nameplate after it lost a legal battle.[4] The K900 was discontinued in Canada by 2018, and the United States in January 2021.
The second generation K9 was launched in 2018.
First generation (KH; 2012–2018)
| First generation (KH) | |
|---|---|
_sedan_(2012-10-26).jpg.webp) Kia Quoris | |
| Overview | |
| Also called |
|
| Production | 2012–2018 |
| Model years | 2013–2018 |
| Assembly | Gwangmyeong, South Korea Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor) |
| Designer | Peter Schreyer (2009) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Platform | Hyundai BH-L (KH-L) |
| Related | Hyundai Equus Hyundai Genesis |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 8-Speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,045 mm (119.9 in)[5] |
| Length | 5,090 mm (200.4 in) (2012–2014) 5,095 mm (200.6 in) (2015–2018) |
| Width | 1,900 mm (74.8 in) |
| Height | 1,485–1,490 mm (58.5–58.7 in) |
| Curb weight |
|
The K9 is a derivative of the Hyundai Equus and Genesis, with which it shares the BH-L (VI) platform. It is the first rear-wheel-drive sedan Kia offered in the United States.[6] The K9's development code was KH.
The K9 is slightly shorter than the Equus, and has a longer wheelbase than the Hyundai Genesis with shorter front overhang dimensions. The Quoris features Kia's "Tiger nose" grill as well as blind spot detection, head-up display and an adaptive front lighting system.
Launch engines in Korea include a 300 PS (221 kW; 296 bhp) 3.3L (3342 cc) V6 and a 334 PS (246 kW; 329 bhp) 3.8L (3778 cc) GDI (Gasoline Direction-Injection) V6,[5] 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.[7]
The K900 in the US uses a 426 PS (313 kW; 420 bhp) 5.0-litre (5,038 cc) GDI V8, producing 376 lb⋅ft (510 N⋅m) of torque.[8] 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.
Second generation (RJ; 2018–present)
| Second generation (RJ) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Also called |
|
| Production | 2018–present |
| Model years | 2019–present |
| Assembly | Gwangmyeong, South Korea |
| Designer | Peter Schreyer |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive |
| Related | Genesis G90/EQ900 Genesis G80 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 8-Speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,105 mm (122.2 in)[9] |
| Length | 5,120 mm (201.6 in) |
| Width | 1,915 mm (75.4 in) |
| Height | 1,490 mm (58.7 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,915–2,165 kg (4,222–4,773 lb) |
Kia debuted the all new K9/K900 (still sold as the Quoris in a few markets) at the March 2018 New York Auto Show. The new generation is longer and wider than the outgoing model, and has a wheelbase stretched by about 2.3 inches (60 mm). It retains the same 8-speed transmission, as well as the same three engine choices.[10] The interior features higher quality leather and wood trim, as well as an analog clock developed by Maurice Lacroix.[11] Kia also introduced an AWD model in South Korea for the second generation.
Powertrain
| Model | Years | Transmission | Power@rpm | Torque@rpm | 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) (Official) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L Lambda II GDi | 2018–present | 8-speed automatic | 253 PS (186 kW; 250 hp) @ 6,000 rpm | 35.4 kg⋅m (347 N⋅m; 256 lbf⋅ft) @ 5,000 rpm | 8.0s (RWD) 8.4s (AWD) |
| 3.3L Lambda II T-GDi | 370 PS (272 kW; 365 hp) @ 6,000 rpm | 52 kg⋅m (510 N⋅m; 376 lbf⋅ft) @ 1,300–4,500 rpm | |||
| 3.8L Lambda II GDi | 315 PS (232 kW; 311 hp) @ 6,000 rpm | 40.5 kg⋅m (397 N⋅m; 293 lbf⋅ft) @ 5,000 rpm | |||
| 5.0L Tau GDi | 425 PS (313 kW; 419 hp) @ 6,000 rpm | 53.0 kg⋅m (520 N⋅m; 383 lbf⋅ft) @ 5,000 rpm |
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.[12] On October 2014, basketball player LeBron James was named Kia's K900 luxury ambassador.[13]
The Kia K900 sold over 200 units per month from April to June in the U.S. market its launch year. Sales dropped to roughly 100-130 units in July and August 2014, and then to 56 in September and up to 62 October.[14]
The K900 was discontinued in 2018 in Canada, and in 2021 in the United States.[15] Kia cited the market transition from large cars to crossovers and SUVs. Only 305 units of the K900 were sold in the US in 2020.
| Calendar year | South Korea[16] | United States[17] | Canada[17] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4,429 | 1,330 | 23 |
| 2015 | 4,294 | 2,524 | 36 |
| 2016 | 2,555 | 834 | 26 |
| 2017 | 1,553 | 455 | 7 |
| 2018 | 11,843 | 354 | 4 |
| 2019 | 10,878 | 390 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7,831 | 305 | 0 |
See also
References
- "2018 Kia K900". www.fueleconomy.gov. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- Lindland, Rebecca (2018). "2019 Kia K900 First Review". Kelley Blue Book. Archived from the original on 2020-08-23.
- "Edmunds Inside Line". Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- Carscoop Carscoop. "Legal battle over Quoris name". Carscoops. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- "기아자동차 - The Power to Surprise | 기아자동차 공식 사이트". KIA.
- "Kia reveals all-new 'K9' flagship sedan for Korean market". Kia Motors. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- "Sales of Kia Quoris Sedans to Kick off in March". Wroom.ru. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- "The Top-of-the-Range Kia K900". AutoTrends. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- "기아 K9 제원 – Dignity & Intelligence, THE K9 | 기아자동차 공식 사이트". KIA.
- "NO SURRENDER: THERE'S A NEW KIA K900 COMING TO THE NEW YORK AUTO SHOW". Autoweek. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- Geiger, Jennifer (2018-03-22). "2019 Kia K900: Can New Luxury, Style Lure Buyers to Flagging Flagship?". Cars.com. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
- Estrada, Zac (2014-01-28). "Kia's The Matrix Super Bowl Ad Sells A K900 With Morpheus And Two Keys". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
- "Basketball global superstar LeBron James is Kia's luxury ambassador". Top Gear Philippines. 2014-10-16. Retrieved 2014-10-16.
- Lopez, Jose Antonio (2014-11-17). "Kia K900 Not Working in the United States". The Korean Car Blog. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
- "Kia K900 and Cadenza Are Dead for 2021". Car & Driver. 2021-01-25.
- https://pr.kia.com/en/company/ir/ir-library/sales-results.do
- "Kia K900 Sales Figures". Good Car Bad Car. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
External links
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- Official website (International)
