Measuring 5,090 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, and 1,490 mm high, the K9 definitely packs quite a bulk and is more or less the size of a 7 Series. And taking after its Bavarian counterpart, it's easy to see that Kia borrowed sparingly from BMW to sculpt its full-sized sedan, with bits and pieces from a Lexus LS here and there. One can even say that the vents on the front fenders were taken from a Maserati Quattroporte. Of course, they've slapped on their signature “tiger nose” grill and flanked a pair of sharp-looking headlights to make it look like a Kia. But in the end, what they've come up with is a good looking set of wheels.
Under the skin, the K9 is teaming with luxurious amenities that would put its adversaries to shame. It comes with features such as 9.2-inch monitors for the rear passengers, reclining seats with leg rests, a 17-speaker Lexicon sound system, and sun shades. There's even orange courtesy mood-lights all around the cabin to make the riding experience more relaxing. Quite interestingly, though, the K9's shifter looks quite similar to the ones used by BMW, while the control knob on the center console bears some similarity to the iDrive system.
Initial specs say that the K9 will be powered by a potent 3.8 liter Lambda V6 with 286 horses and paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. A more powerful 3.8 liter direct injection (GDI) engine will then join the global engine line-up next year. It also boasts an array of safety features including a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Blind-Spot Detection (BSD), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Around View Monitor (AVM) with four cameras, and fully-adaptive all-LED headlights.
Now on sale in South Korea, the K9 will also find its way onto other key markets around the globe, but bearing a different name according to Kia. The Koreans have once again proven that what most high-end can brands do, they can do better.
