Kia is about to launch its first-ever proper luxury sedan in America in form of the new K900. The flagship model will reach Kia showrooms across the States in the first quarter of 2014, launching with a V8 engine, with a V6 model to be added later. Being Korean, the car also has a long list of standard and available features.
The 2015 Kia K900 is powered by the same engines that Hyundai uses for their Genesis. They include a 5.0 liter Tau V8 with 420 horsepower, and a 3.8-liter Lamba V6 with 310 horsepower. With the exception of the discontinued Mohave SUV, this is the first time Kia is putting a V8 engine in a production car. The only available transmission is a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic with driver-selectable settings of Eco, Normal and Sport.
Kia K900 is a rear-wheel-drive car and rides on advanced five-link fully independent front and rear suspension tuned for optimum road comfort. Standard wheel size is 19-inch on the V8 model and 18-inch on the V6. The chassis is made of 75 percent high and ultra-high tensile strength steel for extra rigidity and strength.
Visually, the 2015 Kia K900 shares a lot of its styling cues with the smaller models, namely the Forte and the Cadenza. Still, it has the presence of a proper luxury car thanks to its size and the long 119.9-inch wheelbase. Inside, the cabin is lavishly equipped with Nappa leather on the V8 model, and high-grade leather on the V6. Soft-hue LED interior illumination is standard across the K900 line, as are the walnut wood trims, and 12-way adjustable driver’s seat.
As well-equipped as the standard K900 is, you can still cram more feature into it thanks to the available VIP and Luxury package for the V8, and Luxury Package and Technology Package for the V6. The range-topping V8 VIP comes with Maybach-style rear seats featuring multi-stage heating and cooling, the ability to independently recline and power lumbar support and lateral headrest adjustability.
Both the V6 Technology Package and V8 VIP package get Kia’s first Head-Up Display (HUD), while the latter also benefits from a large 12.3 inch LCD in the center console. The HUD provides important information such as vehicle speed, turn-by-turn navigation, and alerts including the Blind Spot Detection System (BSD) and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS). As for the entertainment, Kia K900 comes as standard with a 900-watt Lexicon high-fidelity audio system, the most powerful and advanced system ever offered by Kia.
