In a move that was to be expected after Kia revealed the new K9 in its home market of South Korea about a month ago, the automaker announced today that the North American version of its flagship sedan will welcome the public at next week's New York Auto Show. We were right to suspect that Kia would change the name of the car for the United States and Canada, as 'K9' is more often than not associated with the word 'canine' in this part of the world.
Instead, we will come to know it as the new 9'Series after the company adopted the use of numeric names with an apostrophe between the number and the word 'Series' in a similar fashion to the European Cee'd. 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 include a 3.8-liter V6 for the 935i, a 4.6-liter V8 for the 945i and a 5.0-liter V8 for the sportier 950i, which will be the sportiest model in the range.
