Kia K900 RWD flagship sedan
10-29-13 | 08:30 AM
#76
Loves Snickerdoodles!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 68
From: San Diego, California
The Rear-Drive Flagship Kia K900 Will Drop At The LA Auto Show
For those of you who have spent years lusting after a luxurious, V8-powered rear-wheel drive Kia, you need only wait a few weeks for the flagship Kia K900 sedan to make its American debut at the LA Auto Show in November.
Known as the K9 in its South Korean homeland, the K900 will be offered with both V6 and V8 power. Full specs haven't been released yet, but likely that means the 333 horsepower 3.8-liter V6 and the 429 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engines from the soon-to-be-replaced Hyundai Genesis. The latter engine also sees duty in the top-tier Hyundai Equus, which is closely related to this car.
And that's where I start to ask questions about the K900's role in the marketplace. It is expected to cost between $50,000 and $70,000, which means in V8 trim it will be in about the same range as the Equus. Is there room for two ultra-sedans made for Korean oligarchs in the U.S. market?
Equus sales haven't been much to write home about, so one has to wonder what their expectations are for the K900. And then there's the new Genesis, which may provide enough luxury and performance to get the job done for much cheaper.
Anyway, good on the Koreans for making more premium luxury cars. We'll have to wait and see how buyers warm up to them.
Known as the K9 in its South Korean homeland, the K900 will be offered with both V6 and V8 power. Full specs haven't been released yet, but likely that means the 333 horsepower 3.8-liter V6 and the 429 horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engines from the soon-to-be-replaced Hyundai Genesis. The latter engine also sees duty in the top-tier Hyundai Equus, which is closely related to this car.
And that's where I start to ask questions about the K900's role in the marketplace. It is expected to cost between $50,000 and $70,000, which means in V8 trim it will be in about the same range as the Equus. Is there room for two ultra-sedans made for Korean oligarchs in the U.S. market?
Equus sales haven't been much to write home about, so one has to wonder what their expectations are for the K900. And then there's the new Genesis, which may provide enough luxury and performance to get the job done for much cheaper.
Anyway, good on the Koreans for making more premium luxury cars. We'll have to wait and see how buyers warm up to them.
http://jalopnik.com/the-rear-drive-f...-au-1453971202
10-29-13 | 11:27 AM
#78
In fact, I feel it much more difficult to name any manufacturers line-up that doesn't use a letter/number combination. Full names are more difficult to remember.
10-29-13 | 06:44 PM
#80
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
On another note, what Hyundai and Kia is doing is nothing short of amazing. They are overcoming the old rule that a high end product needs to carry the luxury badge. To pick on Acura again, we are seeing the Hyundai Equus outsell the RLX, which has a "luxury" badge. Plus, the Hyundai costs $10K more, granted it's a higher end car. Which is all more the blow to Acura. Honda can't make a car in a class that Hyundai can? Kinda sad.
Units sold in Sept...
RLX - 311
Equus - 371
Remember too that VW couldn't sell the Pheaton in that class either. Hyundai is breaking the rules.
Last edited by -J-P-L-; 10-30-13 at 04:37 AM.
10-29-13 | 08:31 PM
#82
I always thought true beauty and originality did not need to resort to awkward shaped grilles and body lines in an attempt to stand out from the crowd.
Porsche did it, Audi did it, BMW did it, Mercedes did it. Lexus has done it, especially with their newer cars as you can see a similar design language throughout their lineup. All these companies have found a way to be original, yet create a classic design for their models, aside from a few exceptions.
Seems like the Koreans have not understood that yet. I think to charge that kind of money for a vehicle, you absolutely NEED innovation and at least an ounce of originality. Copying part A from the Germans and Part B from the Japanese...or more like copying the entire side profile (welcome to 2006 3GS) will only get you so far, but definitely not into the elite Luxury tier.
Porsche did it, Audi did it, BMW did it, Mercedes did it. Lexus has done it, especially with their newer cars as you can see a similar design language throughout their lineup. All these companies have found a way to be original, yet create a classic design for their models, aside from a few exceptions.
Seems like the Koreans have not understood that yet. I think to charge that kind of money for a vehicle, you absolutely NEED innovation and at least an ounce of originality. Copying part A from the Germans and Part B from the Japanese...or more like copying the entire side profile (welcome to 2006 3GS) will only get you so far, but definitely not into the elite Luxury tier.
10-29-13 | 11:27 PM
#83
Never mind Acura.
On another note, what Hyundai and Kia is doing is nothing short of amazing. They are overcoming the old rule that a high end product needs to carry the luxury badge. To pick on Acura again, we are seeing the Hyundai Equus outsell the RLX, which has a "luxury" badge. Plus, the Hyundai costs $10K more, granted it's a higher end car. Which is all more the blow to Acura. Honda can't make a car in a class that Hyundai can? Kinda sad.
Units sold in Sept...
RLX - 311
Equus - 371
Remember too that VW couldn't sell the Pheaton in that class either. Hyundai is braking the rules.
On another note, what Hyundai and Kia is doing is nothing short of amazing. They are overcoming the old rule that a high end product needs to carry the luxury badge. To pick on Acura again, we are seeing the Hyundai Equus outsell the RLX, which has a "luxury" badge. Plus, the Hyundai costs $10K more, granted it's a higher end car. Which is all more the blow to Acura. Honda can't make a car in a class that Hyundai can? Kinda sad.
Units sold in Sept...
RLX - 311
Equus - 371
Remember too that VW couldn't sell the Pheaton in that class either. Hyundai is braking the rules.
The Pheaton is slated to make a return sometime near 2015 according to rumormill
10-30-13 | 04:43 AM
#84
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,864
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
10-30-13 | 06:00 AM
#86
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 702
Likes: 2
From: OK
you cant compare this to an equis...
the equis looks like its own car and it looks classy
i cant get past the 90s kia logo and doesnt look very aggressive or classy..
i mean camon..how hard is it to come up with a creative K badging
the equis looks like its own car and it looks classy
i cant get past the 90s kia logo and doesnt look very aggressive or classy..
i mean camon..how hard is it to come up with a creative K badging
10-30-13 | 07:48 AM
#87
Guest
Posts: n/a
Never mind Acura.
On another note, what Hyundai and Kia is doing is nothing short of amazing. They are overcoming the old rule that a high end product needs to carry the luxury badge. To pick on Acura again, we are seeing the Hyundai Equus outsell the RLX, which has a "luxury" badge. Plus, the Hyundai costs $10K more, granted it's a higher end car. Which is all more the blow to Acura. Honda can't make a car in a class that Hyundai can? Kinda sad.
Units sold in Sept...
RLX - 311
Equus - 371
Remember too that VW couldn't sell the Pheaton in that class either. Hyundai is breaking the rules.
On another note, what Hyundai and Kia is doing is nothing short of amazing. They are overcoming the old rule that a high end product needs to carry the luxury badge. To pick on Acura again, we are seeing the Hyundai Equus outsell the RLX, which has a "luxury" badge. Plus, the Hyundai costs $10K more, granted it's a higher end car. Which is all more the blow to Acura. Honda can't make a car in a class that Hyundai can? Kinda sad.
Units sold in Sept...
RLX - 311
Equus - 371
Remember too that VW couldn't sell the Pheaton in that class either. Hyundai is breaking the rules.
I do wish whomever worked on the Optima worked on this new car, it seems rather bulbous and bland compared to the sharp looking Optima.
10-30-13 | 09:11 PM
#89
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,285
Likes: 0
From: A better place
Never mind Acura.
On another note, what Hyundai and Kia is doing is nothing short of amazing. They are overcoming the old rule that a high end product needs to carry the luxury badge. To pick on Acura again, we are seeing the Hyundai Equus outsell the RLX, which has a "luxury" badge. Plus, the Hyundai costs $10K more, granted it's a higher end car. Which is all more the blow to Acura. Honda can't make a car in a class that Hyundai can? Kinda sad.
Units sold in Sept...
RLX - 311
Equus - 371
Remember too that VW couldn't sell the Pheaton in that class either. Hyundai is breaking the rules.
On another note, what Hyundai and Kia is doing is nothing short of amazing. They are overcoming the old rule that a high end product needs to carry the luxury badge. To pick on Acura again, we are seeing the Hyundai Equus outsell the RLX, which has a "luxury" badge. Plus, the Hyundai costs $10K more, granted it's a higher end car. Which is all more the blow to Acura. Honda can't make a car in a class that Hyundai can? Kinda sad.
Units sold in Sept...
RLX - 311
Equus - 371
Remember too that VW couldn't sell the Pheaton in that class either. Hyundai is breaking the rules.
As for Hyundai/Kia, yeah it's nice they offer a full-size RWD V8 sedan, but that's about it. Nothing special about their sedans. Derivative, copycat "me too" styling and nothing unique or exceptional about them. Equus sales have been mediocre at best, and the only thing keeping the car from completely flopping is price.
Also silly to bring the Phaeton into this argument. The Phaeton when it debuted in the US roughly 10 years ago had a higher base price than the Equus does now.
10-30-13 | 10:29 PM
#90
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: NSW
That is ridiculous, and the RLX is cheaper and brand new. What a disaster. I don't see Kia selling very many but as many have stated it is a way for them to continuously move the brand upward. Compared to Ford, Toyota, Honda etc Kia and Hyundai offer these vehicles to move the brand up in stature. I'm not sure if its completely working but these things take time.
I do wish whomever worked on the Optima worked on this new car, it seems rather bulbous and bland compared to the sharp looking Optima.
I do wish whomever worked on the Optima worked on this new car, it seems rather bulbous and bland compared to the sharp looking Optima.
Literally went from handsome to hideous.
Now it looks worse than the Fusion.
Last edited by bitkahuna; 10-30-13 at 11:42 PM.