Gasgoo.com (Shanghai July 16) - Kia will officially bring over its new flagship sedan, the K9, to China in the latter half of next year, Beijing News reported today. Pricing information for the sedan, which is based on the same platform as the Hyundai Equus, has yet to be announced.
The K9 (pictured) was released in South Korea in May. The K9, which was first revealed as a concept at the New York International Auto Show earlier this month, is a rear-wheel drive sedan, a rare design for the Korean manufacturer. It is powered by a Hyundai Lambda engine, available in 3.3 L and 3.8 L configurations, with the latter outputting 246 kW, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Although the car's 3.05 m wheelbase is the same size as the Equus, the K9 is slightly larger overall. The K9's measurements place it firmly in the full-size market, competing directly with the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and other luxury sedans.
SUVs currently account for over 50 percent of Kia's sales in China. Its K7 family sedan, meanwhile, constitutes around 20 percent of overall sales.
