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 mid-sizeluxury sedan manufactured and marketed by Kia Motors, now in its second generation. 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, the United States, and Canada. There are plans to release it in China; though, Kia will not use the Quoris nameplate after a lost legal battle. The second generation Quoris was launched in 2018.
The K9 is a derivative of the Hyundai Equus and Genesis, with which it shares the BH-L platform. It is the first rear-wheel-drivesedan Kia offered in the United States. The K9's development code was KH. The K9 is slightly shorter than the Equus, and has a longer wheelbase 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 3.3L V6 and a 3.8L GDI V6, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Quoris debuted in Russia in 2013 with a 3.8L V6. The K900 in the US uses a 5.0L GDI V8, producing of torque. In Canada, the K900 can be fitted with either a 3.8L GDI V6, producing of torque or the same 5.0L GDI V8 as the US market.
Kia debuted the all new K9/K900 at the March 2018New York Auto Show. The new generation is longer and wider than the outgoing model, and has a wheelbase stretched by about. It is expected to retain the same 8-speed transmission, as well as the same three engine choices. The interior will feature higher quality leather and wood trim, as well as an analog clock developed by Maurice Lacroix. Kia also introduced an AWD model in South Korea for the second generation.
Powertrain
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. On October 2014, basketball playerLeBron James was named Kia's K900 luxury ambassador. 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.
