The Kia KH Concept in all its splendour

Finally, it will not be commercially called the Kia K9, although the name matters little for this saloon, the first rear-wheel-drive Kia and with a rather overwhelming presence that the Korean brand saw fit to present on its Facebook page. As for the final name, they have left it to the imagination of enthusiasts, with names such as Kia Zepplin or Kia Luxor.

But we have not come here to christen the new Kia, but to tell you about it. Like almost all Kia projects, this is a closed collaboration with Hyundai, so if you see any resemblance to the Hyundai Equus it is no mere coincidence, although it must be said that the Equus seems to me a little more flamboyant than the KH/K9. And indeed, this saloon carries the base of the Equus/Genesis.

It is not too difficult to imagine that this model will use shared engines with Hyundai. Although Kia has not mentioned it, it seems they are preparing the 3.8L V6 with 385 horsepower or the 4.6L V8 from Hyundai. Another, wilder option is the inclusion of the 5-litre Tau V8, with 429 horsepower. Either way, what will take priority is comfort and the smoothness of ride that only a generous engine can deliver, although the final sale price of the KH/K9 when it reaches the market will also play a part.

What I am not too sure about is whether Kia will have a market for this saloon. A customer seeking a similar high-performance saloon is going to opt for a model that is not Korean. And if a Korean model still appeals to them, they have the Hyundai Equus; how will this Kia model fit into a segment so difficult to match against the German brands?

Via | Torque News