Do you want to know the first thing that we noticed about Kia's K900 flagship saloon, besides the very BMW-esque styling language of the exterior? The very, very BMW-like automatic transmission's handle, and that says a lot about Kia's first effort in the rear-wheel drive (premium) sedan segment. Yes, we've seen it before, but it really never gets old…
The K900 might have a new name for North America as its Korean moniker "K9". was deemed inappropriate due to its use for working dogs, while Kia also ditched the idea to use its other name for international markets, the "Quoris", but it has been around for more than a year now.
The transition from Korean to North American specification model didn't bring any significant changes on the styling front, only a new grille piece, chrome wheels and colored side markers in the headlamps.
Riding on a 119.9-inch (3,022mm) wheelbase, the K900 promises to offer plenty of space for its passengers who are enclosed in what Kia describes as an "opulent" interior with all sorts of standard and available comfort features and gadgets, from standard multi-stage heating for the outboard seats to a 12.3 inch, the full-color LCD screen for the infotainment system on top trims.
Among other available features mentioned by Kia are a full-length panoramic roof with power retractable sunshade, individual rear seats with multi-stage cooling that can also recline and incorporate power lumbar support and lateral headrest adjustability, a TFT instrument panel, a 900-watt Lexicon high-fidelity audio system, and a camera-based Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS).
When the Hyundai Genesis-based K900 goes on sale in the States during the first quarter of 2014, it will be available with a choice of two gasoline powerplants, a 3.8-liter Lamba V6 with 311 horsepower, and a 5.0-liter Tau V8 rated at 420 horsepower. Both units are paired to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission.
