Kia K900 Range-topper Set for Debut in Los Angeles

It was just a small blip on the ol’ radar screen, but it could herald big changes for the Kia brand: Per a recent release, “Kia Motors America will take value to new levels of sophistication next month with the unveiling of a rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan at the Los Angeles auto show. The all-new K900 is scheduled to go on sale next year and be available with either a V6 or V8 engine.”

Now, that is, literally, the entire text of the company’s announcement, but since a version of the car already has launched in Kia’s home market of South Korea and other global markets—as the K9 and Quoris—we can get a basic idea of what’s to come. For starters, the exterior of the K9/Quoris shows a more sophisticated evolution of Kia’s successful large-car design language, with slightly more restrained styling, a more settled stance and a sharper focus on details. That’s particularly true up front, where the car aims for luxury lighting leadership with precision-look adaptive LED headlights.

Also offered on the K9/Quoris, and thus almost certain to show up on the Kia K900, is a four-camera sensor system that does double duty for drivers. Not only does the setup enable a full suite of driver-assistance features, but it also delivers a true 360-degree around-view display. Again looking to the global model for inspiration, some of the other distinguishing highlights likely to be seen in the Kia K900 include:

• An eight-speed automatic transmission complemented by four selectable driving modes
• Rear-seat entertainment resources like dual 9.2-inch video monitors
• Premium audio with 17 Lexicon speakers
• Head Up Display

As for pricing, expect the MSRP of the Kia K900 to be somewhere in the same neighborhood as that of its Hyundai Equus rival/cousin, with an address just north of $60,000.