Kia K900: Kia’s definition of luxury
Nobody can say Kia doesn’t lack ambition. Back in 1994, when they arrived on American soil, Kia was a small manufacturer selling cheap cars. Financial troubles came up, and Hyundai bought them in the late 90’s. They started redesigning their lineup in association with their new owners, and today they have vehicles across the whole market, from the compact car to the SUV. There are some market shares, however, that they have not touched. Some castles where the competition is well-entrenched. Example: the luxury full-size sedan. Not so long ago, that segment was ruled by the Germans, and no one could compete with the S-class and the 7-Series… Today though, the battle rages on. Jaguar has the XJ, and Audi sells a lot of A8s. The last manufacturer to join the melee is Kia, with the K900.
On paper, this sedan has all the elements to satisfy the most discerning customers: a 311 horsepower V6 standard and a 420 horsepower, 5.0 liter V8 as an option, 8-speed transmission, over 3 meters long, a complete array of driving aids (adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, 360 degree cameras, parking sensors, and many more…), a 12 inch LCD screen that acts as the dashboard, luxurious Nappa leather all over the interior, a 900W, 17 (!) speaker Lexicon sound system, front heated and ventilated seats adjustable in 16 different ways, adjustable rear seats that are ALSO heated and ventilated, blinds to give the rear occupants some privacy… The list is exhaustive!
With prices starting at $49,995 for the V6, going all the way up to $69,995 for a well-equipped V8 model, the K900 comes as a serious competitor in the luxury sedan segment. The biggest problem for Kia now is convincing customers who can spend 70,000 dollars on a car to walk through the doors of a Kia dealership…