LA AUTO SHOW: Would You Consider The New K900 If The Badge Didn't Say Kia?

The Japanese knew creating a luxury marque in the US was going to be a daunting task.  So Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti were created at great expense to market upscale models that were to distinctly separate for their mass market brethren.

History has proven that the strategy immediately paid off, and the American consumer flocked in droves to the the new brands that promised luxury at a lower cost than the German brands could offer.

Now the Koreans are taking the plunge but not by creating a separate brand and dealer network, but by incorporating the luxury models into the existing network.  Is that going to work?  Has the vision of owning a luxury car degraded to the point that buyers are willing to sacrifice the dealer perks that traditionally go with a luxury purchase?

So enter the Kia K900, not a name known for luxury, bit a name that is known for value.  Look through the shots below store them in your memory and then ponder the next question.

Would you more inclined to buy the new K900 if the badge didn't say Kia?

I think we can all agree most of the world class automakers can produce a viable luxury product if they so wish but the hard sell is getting over stereotypes.

The 2013 LA Show photo galleries are sponsored by Lexus.

Official LA Auto Show Photo Gallery


















































Official LA Auto Show Photo Gallery