According to The Korea Herald sources, Kia Motors is likely to add a “K8” to its flagship lineup of the K series, to feature a new vehicle that would be sportier and more casual in its appearance.
“Kia has already asked suppliers to provide the auto parts for the Kia K8. This new car is expected to be a sportier sedan coming between the Kia K7 and K9 series,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
Considering the sluggish sales of the pricier K9 luxury sedan, he said the new lineup — featuring an unprecedented even-numbered model name — could bring a breath of fresh air into Kia’s K series sales.
Regarding the success of the potential new car, the source recalled the skepticism that shrouded the Avante when Hyundai introduced the model as an in-between of the Sontata and Accent models back in 1995. “But now the Avante is the best-selling car,” he said.
The ”K8“ is expected to share the platform and transmission with Hyundai’s 3,000 cc luxury sedan Genesis, while succeeding the family look of the K series, which currently consists of the K3, K5, K7 and K9. Is the Kia GT Concept
The specific launch schedule of the K8 has yet to be revealed, the source said. Peter Schreyer, Kia’s former design chief and currently the head of design at both Hyundai and Kia, was the architecture behind the signature ”tiger nose“ radiator grill for the K series.
