STUD OR DUD? Is KIA Ready To Carve Out A Niche In BMW's Turf With The K9 Flagship?

Yesterday Agent00R brought you the first spy photo of Kia's upcoming RWD flagship code named K9 in the wild.  as good looking as that was you really didn't get feel for it until last night when Kia updated their Facebook page to with a series of preview shots to give us a better look.

Set to debut in worldwide in the first half of this year the K9 is based on the same platform as the Hyundai Genesis and Equus, and will serve to anchor the top end of the lineup for Kia.   With BMW like looks the K9 most likely will have the same power offings as it's siblings from Hyundai including the 4.6L V8  along with 3.6L V6.  We wouldn't rule out the 5.0L V8 as an option as of yet, but at this point anything is possible.

Soon-Nam Lee, Kia's Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, commented on presentation of the firm's new flagship : "K9 is our first rear-wheel drive large sedan, created without compromise in its design, driving performance and new technologies. K9 sets a whole new level of standards and values in the large sedan segment, and its design will be another Kia demonstration of our brand's power to surprise the world."

So is Hyundai targeting the Lexus wanna be market and Kia parceling out it's own niche for the BMW wanna be as well?   An interesting concept for sure.

Need4Speed - 2/28/2012 10:34:45 AM

+7 Boost

Let's see how many cars you can spot on the K9...I'll start...

LS 400
Audi A6 '13
BMW 7 Series ...

DuDE - 2/28/2012 10:47:25 AM

+7 Boost

also..
BMW 5-GT front and back,7-series tail lamp, Maserati grille,Maserati fender scoop outlet thing, Jaguar rims, 5 series front lower bumper,Jaguar tail pipe, etc..

M35MT - 2/28/2012 1:34:35 PM

+4 Boost

I see quite a bit of 7 series, thought that right away.

Essentially it'll be a Hyundai Genesis with a Kia badge that looks like a 7 series rip off.

I'm sure Blake Griffin can't wait to get one!

LexSucks - 2/28/2012 10:50:41 AM

-6 Boost

Looks nicer than the LS460 and the 7 series. The merc still looks nicer.

infiniti_G35c - 2/28/2012 10:57:47 AM

+2 Boost

While I agree this car may have many styling cues reminiscent of other vehicles, let's not get too far-fetched here. "Jaguar tail pipes?" Really?

Anyway, i think it's a handsome vehicle. For Kia to be putting out strong competition in the mid-to-large-size RWD segment is impressive on it's own. Look at Acura--30 years in the making and not one RWD vehicle since the last NSX.

I say, good job Kia!

edeus123 - 2/29/2012 10:17:37 AM

+1 Boost

I agree with you as well Infiniti_G35c. Grant it that it has taken a lot from the 5series GT front face, but thats okay. I think. In my humble opinion I think KIA pulled it off a little bit better than BMW in that particuar department. Needless to say, I hate it and some how like it at the same time. Ummm...don't judge me.

Caraficionado - 2/28/2012 11:08:46 AM

-5 Boost

Thruth is this car surely will end up being more reliable than those it is trying to emulate

Designer1 - 2/28/2012 11:50:03 AM

+2 Boost

Not bad, let's see how good it is.

LexSucks - 2/28/2012 4:59:17 PM

-3 Boost

Stop Hating. You talk crap about KIA while at the same time attack anyone who talks crap about Toyota. Hypocritical much?

topneuro - 2/28/2012 12:11:36 PM

+15 Boost

K orean
I mitation
A utomobiles

enthusiastx11 - 2/28/2012 12:26:19 PM

+2 Boost

lexus side, jaguar rear quarter, buick front end.

i think they got it right by calling it a K9...it's a dog.

M35MT - 2/28/2012 1:36:47 PM

+4 Boost

and it stole is nomenclature from Audi...

"A"udi A8
"K"ia K9

Baby - 2/29/2012 4:09:29 AM

+2 Boost

Ohh... you would like to think thats a Buick front end but that is BMW all the way~

commander104 - 2/28/2012 1:00:54 PM

+1 Boost

Can't wait to hear Brian Cooley's review
cnettv.com

Brembo - 2/28/2012 1:17:54 PM

+5 Boost

WTF!

BrownsGoBack - 2/28/2012 1:59:02 PM

-2 Boost

South Korea and China know the path that Japan followed to success (copying) and they are using the same playbook. For many years, Japanese cars where known for copying others' designs.

Tarzan - 2/28/2012 3:43:56 PM

+2 Boost

I can't decide, is this a Lexus GS350 or BMW 535 ripoff? Or both?

PlanB - 2/28/2012 3:58:27 PM

+4 Boost

Although it takes a lot of styling cues from other cars, I'm just happy it doesn't look like Kia's last flagship, the Amanti. But this was expected, Kia never really had there own styling direction in its short life. But it looks good, at the rate they've succeeded thus far it should do well.

wcbrown - 2/28/2012 5:21:38 PM

+3 Boost

Oh, KIA, Bless your heart!...SMH!!

Yonder7 - 2/28/2012 7:04:29 PM

-2 Boost

M...Lexus does not have a good image at the start, Kia, the same, but at least they are starting with good designs, I see a lot of AMERICANS buying this if the reliability and lifespan is good.

ZondaF09 - 2/28/2012 11:04:26 PM

+4 Boost

I'm sorry but this a terrible effort by Kia. Can't they come up with something original. I mean look at the grill, it's way to reminiscent of the kidney grill from BMW. Don't get me wrong, I like that Kia is trying to enhance the look of there brand but come on guys.

iamdabest1 - 2/28/2012 11:10:38 PM

+4 Boost

this is just plain wrong..

FromThePassengerSeat - 2/29/2012 12:06:27 AM

+4 Boost

It stole the front from a 5-series GT and the rear from the LS460. Shameful.

85bmw745i - 2/29/2012 8:48:04 AM

+2 Boost

Can't believe how the front end is such a blatant rip off of BMW!not only to to headlights but the entire front end profile!If the 5 series/7 series had LED lights they would look just like this.

Yonder7 - 2/29/2012 9:11:37 AM

0 Boost

At least is an improvement over the ugly front of the 7 series guys, we have to recognize that...

pepito66 - 2/29/2012 12:31:23 PM

+2 Boost

So embarrassing even using a ex Audi designer they need to copy and paste from liders brands , and now the numbers of victims is huge , the stolen from BMW, Jaguar,Maserrati,Lexus,even Buick , no credit to no brain copy because we can't call creation because those headlights , lines , tails lights was already created by liders of auto industry.
So DUD no credit for me , be originals.

mpls - 3/1/2012 4:26:20 PM

+1 Boost

SOme German designer does the Hyundai and Kias,
He's blatantly copying from all the brands

mpls - 3/1/2012 4:32:03 PM

+1 Boost

Front BMW 7 series,
Side Profle hints of Buick
Back Lexus, and Lexus LS460 integrated exhausts,
From the side the back looks like a lexus IS, the red lights from the sticking out rom the body like the IS too,,,

skytop - 3/3/2012 10:09:49 PM

+2 Boost

I bet the lawyers for MB, BMW, Jag and Aston are busily pushing for copywrite protection on their designs.
The Koreans are clearly saving millions in research and just copying the German cars. It's legal and nothing can be done....for now.

It really is a rip off and not ethical or correct. Why not just call it a Kia WMB since it is an ass backward car.

skytop - 3/3/2012 10:12:09 PM

+2 Boost

In the world of design, this is called a 'knock off' and is sold at gigantic discount because it is a phoney.

There are people who wear knock off Rolex watches. They wear phoney because they are phoney. It is like buying a lie and wearing a deception.