Kia unveiled the completely redesigned Kia K900 sedan at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, establishing a new standard for luxury. The all-new second-generation model combines a dignified and sophisticated exterior design, a beautifully crafted cabin of premium materials, and performance characteristics that befit a world-class flagship sedan. Reimagined in every way, the K900 brings with it an array of new systems and safety features, making it the most technologically advanced Kia ever.
Now based on the capable Genesis G90, the large Kia looks more tailored and stately than before. Under the hood is a twin-turbo V6 shared with the Genesis G80 and G90, as well as the Kia Stinger, routing power using standard all-wheel drive.
The conservatively styled second-gen K900 is a marginally bigger car than the one it replaces, to the tune of a 2.3-inch-longer wheelbase and an extra inch of overall length. Kia says the new K900 has a more rigid body than the previous model, thanks to greater use of structural adhesives.
Kia has upped the K900’s game inside the cabin, with lots of metal veneer and a choice among four different types of open-pore, matte-finished wood. Front seats come with both heat and ventilation.
The driver’s seat has available 20-way power adjustability, and the front passenger seat can be adjusted 16 ways. Passengers can personalize the second-row settings as well: The rear seats can be adjusted up to 14 ways, including a seatback that can recline, and it has optional heated and ventilated seats there to boot.
A 12.3-inch touch-screen infotainment display is perched high on the dashboard, and with a controller knob on the center console. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility are included. A Maurice Lacroix analog clock sits in the middle of the center stack, adding a touch of class.
K900 buyers will have the choice of a 7-inch instrument cluster or an optional 12.3-inch version. A 9.7-inch head-up display is also available, capable of showing speed, navigation, audio, and driver-assistance information on the windshield in front of the driver.
For music lovers, the K900 has a 900-watt, 17-speaker Harman Kardon/Lexicon audio system—the most powerful system Kia has ever put into one of its cars. Turn off the powerful stereo, and the K900’s cabin should be even quieter than before, thanks to a host of new insulation materials throughout the vehicle’s structure.
Kia has ditched the K900’s V6 and V8 engine options in favor of a 3.3-liter, 365-hp twin-turbocharged V6 shared with other Genesis and Kia models. This engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission combined with standard all-wheel drive; the original K900 came only in rear-wheel-drive configuration.
Kia says the front and rear suspensions were re-engineered, with the aim of quicker turn-in and a more athletic handling feel than the car it replaces. The last K900 was far more comfortable floating down the highway than it was at carving corners, so we’ll be keen to see whether or how much handling has improved.
There will be an available electronically controlled suspension system that constantly reacts to road conditions.
