It’s an April Fools Day Joke! Sorry for that!
After Kia revealed the new K9 in its home market about a month ago, the South Korean automaker announced today that the North American version of its flagship sedan will welcome the public at the 2012 New York Auto Show, starts next Wednesday April 4.
The nomenclature that Kia has chosen to sold in the US and Canada is “9 Series”, and that’s not the only change to the original K9. Under the guidance of chief designer Peter Schreyer, the company’s U.S studio in California redesigned the car’s front grille to address critics who felt that the K9’s appearance was too close to similar offerings from BMW.
“The 9 Series is the latest continuation of Kia’s evolving design DNA, carrying a fresh family-look radiator grille that stands out from the competition, bold LED headlamps featuring an accent trim across their tops, with classic design echoes in its voluminous hood,” said Thomas Von Hofsten, director of exterior design.
“Its overall proportions follow an instantly recognizable Kia template, with an elongated bonnet, long wheelbase and set-back passenger cell,” the German designer added.
Kia said that the new Kia 9 will launch in the States in exactly a year’s time with three available engines, all of which are sourced from the Hyundai Genesis sedan. These same engine are the 3.8-liter V6 GDi with 340 hp, a 4.6-liter V8 Tau with 385 hp and the 5.0-liter V8 Tau GDi.
