2019 Kia K900 Aims to Deliver a New Standard for Luxury

The completely redesigned 2019 Kia K900 has debuted at the 2018 New York Auto Show.

The Korean automaker’s flagship sedan is set to go on sale in the U.S. during the fourth quarter of 2018 and was conceived and created in Kia’s design studio in Korea, with collaboration from the Irvine, California-based studio. The second-generation K900 hopes to bring a new definition of premium luxury to the Kia brand, measuring slightly longer and wider than its predecessor. Kia says its designers were inspired by a design ethic they call “The Gravity of Prestige” when it came to styling the new K900.

Up front, the sedan gets a new “Quadric pattern” signature grille, which features 176 jewel-like “cells” within the grille. The design of the duplex headlamps was inspired by the trajectory of light, while above the units is a floating hood design that emphasizes the length, volume, and balanced proportions of the car. There’s a nice touch of satin chrome running along the base of the doors, while detailed 19-inch wheels give the K900 a fitting stance.

Under the hood of the 2019 Kia K900 is a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, the same powerplant found in AutoGuide.com‘s Car of the Year, the Kia Stinger. It generates 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque while paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Although the goal of the K900 is to appeal to luxury buyers, Kia wanted to ensure it offers a sporty driving experience. As a result, the model comes standard with a full-time Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control all-wheel-drive system that is rear biased and electronically controlled based on road conditions.

2018 New York Auto Show Coverage

Inside the cabin, Kia built on the previous K900 by adding new luxurious materials and improvements throughout the interior. The dash is uncluttered and ergonomic, boasting a tech-savvy instrument panel and integrated air vents. Nappa leather is available as an option and there’s plenty of trim materials to choose from, including four open pore matte wood selections: Walnut, Brown Olive Ash, Beige Olive Ash, and Engineered Wood. Soft leather comes in Black, Espresso Brown, or two-tone Sienna Brown.

Both seats up front are heated and ventilated, while the driver benefits from a heated steering wheel. In addition, Kia says it made substantial improvements to rear seat comfort, with available 12- and 14-way adjusters for the driver side rear seat and passenger side rear seat, respectively. There are also reclining capability, height-adjustable headrests, and forward/aft, tilt up/down cushions. Heated and ventilated seats for the rear are available as an option.

Helping set the mood is a new lighting system developed in conjunction with the Pantone Color Institute. There are 64 colors available, with Pantone creating seven specific color settings. A similar approach to cabin lighting was first introduced on the Telluride SUV Concept.

Lastly, the 2019 Kia K900 is packed with plenty of tech, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the center console. There’s a newly-designed Premium Navigation system that comes with Kia’s UVO luxe full suite of remote features. The driver gets either a seven-inch color instrument cluster or an available 12.3-inch cluster with graphics differentiated by the drive mode of the vehicle. There is also an available 9.7-inch head up display.

Other advanced safety features include Surround View Monitor, Blind Spot View Monitor, Lane Keep Assist System, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Avoidance Alert, Lane Follow Assist, and Advanced Smart Cruise Control.

Look for pricing to be announced closer to the 2019 Kia K900’s sale date later this year.

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