Contents

Kia K9

Kia K9
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia
Also called	Kia K900 (United States and Canada) Kia Quoris
Production	2012–present
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car (F)
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (2018–present)

The Kia K9, marketed as the Kia K900 in the United States and Canada and as the Kia Quoris in other export markets, is a full-size^[1][2] luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by Kia, now in its second generation.

The K9 was launched in South Korea in May 2012, with export sales beginning in late 2012. As of June 2013, it was sold in South Korea, the Middle East, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Peru, Russia,^[3] the United States, and Canada. There are plans to release it in China, although Kia will not use the Quoris nameplate after it lost a legal battle.^[4] The K900 was discontinued in Canada by 2018, and the United States in January 2021.

The second generation K9 was launched in 2018.

First generation (KH; 2012)[edit]

First generation (KH)
Kia Quoris
Overview
Also called	Kia K900 (United States and Canada) Kia Quoris (other export markets)
Production	2012–2018
Model years	2013–2018
Assembly	Gwangmyeong, South Korea Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor)
Designer	Peter Schreyer (2009)
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Platform	Hyundai BH-L (KH-L)
Related	Hyundai Equus Hyundai Genesis
Powertrain
Engine	3.3 L Lambda II GDI V6 3.8 L Lambda II MPI V6 3.8 L Lambda II GDI V6 5.0 L Tau GDI V8
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,045 mm (119.9 in)[5]
Length	5,090 mm (200.4 in) (pre-facelift) 5,095 mm (200.6 in) (facelift)
Width	1,900 mm (74.8 in)
Height	1,485–1,490 mm (58.5–58.7 in)
Curb weight	1,870–1,985 kg (4,123–4,376 lb) (V6) 2,066–2,132 kg (4,555–4,700 lb) (V8)

The K9 is a derivative of the Hyundai Equus and Genesis, with which it shares the BH-L (VI) platform. It is the first rear-wheel-drive sedan Kia offered in the United States.^[6] The K9's development code was KH.

The K9 is slightly shorter than the Equus, and has a longer wheelbase than the Hyundai Genesis with shorter front overhang dimensions. The Quoris features Kia's "Tiger nose" grill as well as blind spot detection, head-up display and an adaptive front lighting system.

Launch engines in Korea include a 300 PS (221 kW; 296 bhp) 3.3 L (3,342 cc) V6 and a 334 PS (246 kW; 329 bhp) 3.8 L (3,778 cc) GDI (Gasoline Direction-Injection) V6,^[5] coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Quoris debuted in Russia in 2013 with a 294 PS (216 kW; 290 bhp) 3.8L V6.^[7]

The K900 in the US uses a 426 PS (313 kW; 420 bhp) 5.0-litre (5,038 cc) GDI V8, producing 376 lb⋅ft (510 N⋅m) of torque.^[8] In Canada, the K900 can be fitted with either a 315 PS (232 kW; 311 bhp) 3.8L GDI V6, producing 293 lb⋅ft (397 N⋅m) of torque or the same 5.0L GDI V8 as the US market.

Powertrain[edit]

Second generation (RJ; 2018)[edit]

Second generation (RJ)
Overview
Also called	Kia K900 (United States, most markets)
Production	2018–present
Model years	2019–present
Assembly	Gwangmyeong, South Korea
Designer	Peter Schreyer Karim Habib (2021 facelift)
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
Related	Genesis G90/EQ900 Genesis G80
Powertrain
Engine	3.3 L Lambda II GDI V6 3.3 L Lambda II T-GDI V6 3.8 L Lambda II GDI V6 5.0 L Tau GDI V8
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,105 mm (122.2 in)[9]
Length	5,120 mm (201.6 in) (pre-facelift) 5,140 mm (202.4 in) (facelift)
Width	1,915 mm (75.4 in)
Height	1,490–1,505 mm (58.7–59.3 in)
Curb weight	1,915–2,166 kg (4,222–4,775 lb)

Kia debuted the all new K9/K900 (still sold as the Quoris in a few markets) at the March 2018 New York International Auto Show. The new generation is longer and wider than the outgoing model, and has a wheelbase stretched by about 2.3 inches (60 mm). It retains the same 8-speed transmission, as well as the same three engine choices.^[10] The interior features higher quality leather and wood trim, as well as an analog clock developed by Maurice Lacroix.^[11] Kia also introduced an AWD model in South Korea for the second generation.

• 
  Rear view
• 
  Interior

Facelift[edit]

The exterior images of the newer facelift version were released on 17 May 2021.^[12][13] Compared to the pre-facelift model, it got a wider grille with chrome V logos, a full-width rear lamp, and a repositioned number plate. This version also got a tweaked interior, such as a larger 14.5-inch infotainment display and fingerprint authentication system.

• 
  Kia K9 (facelift)
• 
  Kia K9 (facelift)
• 
  Interior

Powertrain[edit]

Marketing and sales[edit]

To promote the K900, Kia Motors released their Super Bowl XLVIII commercial, featuring Laurence Fishburne reprising his role as Morpheus from The Matrix series.^[15] In October 2014, basketball player LeBron James was named Kia's K900 luxury ambassador.^[16]

The Kia K900 sold over 200 units per month from April to June in the U.S. market its launch year. Sales dropped to roughly 100-130 units in July and August 2014, and then to 56 in September and up to 62 October.^[17]

The K900 was discontinued in 2018 in Canada, and in 2021 in the United States.^[18] Kia cited the market transition from large cars to crossovers and SUVs. Only 305 units of the K900 were sold in the US in 2020.

See also[edit]

• Kia GT Concept
• Kia Stinger
• Kia Opirus

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kia K9, Kia K900 and Kia Quoris.

• Official website (in Korean)