Kia reveals sketeches of its first-ever rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan, codenamed KH!
Kia Motors today revealed the first official sketches of its all-new flagship sedan, which is expected to establish new standards for design flair in the large sedan segment.
Codenamed KH, the new model is Kia’s first ever rear-wheel drive sedan and combines innovative design with high-tech features.
KH is among the company’s most eagerly anticipated new models and will be launched in Kia’s domestic market in the first half of 2012. There are no plans to launch the vehicle in mainland Europe and the car will not be coming to the UK.
The design concept behind KH is ‘distinctive, modern and classic’, which is expressed through sophisticated, technically-advanced elements combined with Kia’s existing dynamic design language to create a vehicle that truly stands out from its competitors.
The new model features a bold front-end design appropriate to a luxury car. Kia’s charismatic family-look radiator grille is flanked by modern headlamps that reinforce the brand’s innovative challenger image, and the proportions of the unique hood design give KH a classic car-like feel.
KH’s profile, which was a key focus for Kia’s designers during development, features a simple side character line to give a feeling of spaciousness while emphasizing the new model’s bold and dynamic image. The high-tech rear combination lamp clusters, plus the luxurious, bold chrome accent give KH a sophisticated and stable rear view.
Soon-Nam Lee, Kia’s Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, says, “Our all-new flagship sedan integrates all of our key capabilities such as design, performance, high-tech features and infotainment into one striking model.
“Although launch timings for those overseas markets it will go to are yet to be confirmed, this all-new rear-wheel drive large sedan will definitely become the leading model of our global line-up, showcasing the best of the best of Kia.”
2013 Kia KH image gallery:
February 13th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
This proves that the kkksstudio is usually par with Kia’s real designs as long as their K9 sketch is the one which matches the most with this official one from Kia.
February 13th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Will will will what do we have here? Now why would Kia tell us the codename KH, yet K9 is displayed on the plate? Remember seeing the interior? On the steering wheel Oprius logo is on there? So Kia must be unveiling this in the States? We can ax out Europe. But will it be called K9 for America? So K9 is not the code name but the model name….. interesting. But is the K9 name for the USA? It can’t be South Korea because we saw Oprius logo. But why would Kia call it the K9 here with no K7, or K5? Interesting very very interesting. As for the looks it looks aggressive enough and will turn heads. But something is strange about the name.
February 14th, 2012 at 2:32 am
I agree with you, jtz. At first it wouldn’t make sense call it K9 on markets which never saw the K designation. And I’m reading from comments that people are thinking that K9′s side line is too similar to BMW’s…
February 14th, 2012 at 2:49 am
BMW is all on this no doubt. Still nice though. But that’s ok after all the Acura’s ZDX side copied the Mazda 6′s side and the Chevy Volt’s backend but since it’s not Korean the Acura is original. What site you go to? Maybe they need its to go on there to state the Buick Lucern’s tailights copied the 2005 Mazda 3′s.
February 14th, 2012 at 11:02 am
WOW!!!!!
February 14th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
So which car do you think looks the best the KH or the GT? If I had to pick between the two, I’d have to go with the KH. ONLY because the KH has the aggressivness in the front I like, the GT’s front just ain’t aggressive enough yet the GT’s bodystyle is more unique. So why not put the KH’s face on the GT and you have ahell of a design. I can’t stand the GT’s headlights from certain angles.
February 14th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
wow, with that side sketch, think they are going after Infinity at all?? I like the design, I’ll be curious to see if it comes to NA.
February 14th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
As a loyal Kia owner, (first the Sephia, now the Optima) I beg the powers that be to bring the K9 to the USA!
February 14th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Pure BMW design! Shame!
February 14th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
“Pure BMW design! Shame!”
Ignoring that Pontiac’s signature looks like BMW. Ignoring that the Lacross’ backend copied BMW.. Ignoring that the 2007 Chevy Malibu’s tailights copied BMW. Don’t mess with me I can get cars you never thought in your life copied. Ignoring that the Ford Crown Victoria’s tailights also copied BMW, but since those car manufactuers ain’t Korean, that makes them orginal looking. Also ignoring that the Honda Accord’s C pillar copied BMW.
Anyway, I wonder if the K9 will have rear seat reclinders? Maybe a rear DVD player? What new features are going to be in this Kia that no other Kia model ever had? Hmmm, advance cruise control where the car has a sensor. This comes in handy incase a big stupid dumb slow minivan decides to go 55mph in a 70mph zone and the K9 is at cruise up to 75. It comes to the big stupid dumb slow acclerating and annoying to be behind minivan. Suddenly, with out putting your foot on the brake, the car slows down now having to do an annoying 55mph in order to not run into the person who for no reason choosed to buy a stupid, dumb slow ugly annoying tadcky minivan over a crossover. Anyway, as soon as that dumb, slow annoying minivan gets out of the fast lane (minivans love to be in fast lanes and don’t know why), the K9 can finally get back to the speed it was at. Because of Minivans, mankind had to come up with advance cruise control. Minivans you gotta hate them.
February 15th, 2012 at 6:34 am
How quickly we forget when Lexus LS first got here, Mercedes was all over that car.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:35 am
Huge leap of everything here. Going to RWD and putting a big motor under the bonnet is nothing but good news. The design on the exterior is very exciting – now what about the interior? No brushed plastic aluminium please!! This is supposed to be up-market!! And exactly what engine (in details) are they really putting in. The Turbo 2 liter or the V6 bored out to 4 litres?? MUST have 380/440 BHP to be of really serious intentions to conquer BMW and Merc which is clearly what it is aimed at.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:38 am
must change the name from K9 – its just to obvious it will be called a DOG!
February 15th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
I do 55 MPH on the freeway all the time. There is no need to go any faster than that. When I’m driving the Optima, I can get over 40 MPG on the freeway going 55. And what are you talking about minivans going slow. It is all the d**n minivans that are constantly passing me. Crossovers are slow. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten behind a Highlander, new Explorer (there are tons of those in SE Michigan) or Traverse that wouldn’t get out of my way. Crossovers are without question the worst vehicles to get behind. All of the “soccer moms” that drive them shouldn’t be driving a vehicle that big, and it definitely shows when you get behind one on an on-ramp. Not to mention, have you ever tried to install a car seat in a Sorento? I drove a Sorento for a couple days last week. What a pain in the a$$ putting the car seat in it was. I wouldn’t even recommend a Sorento to someone with kids in car seats. What Kia really needs to do with the K9 is make it easy to install car seats. I want one, but I want to be able to get car seats in and out.
February 15th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Yeah will because of Crossovers now, Minivans are a dying segment. After all, just compare Sorento sells to Sedonas YTD and I rest my case… Crossovers are better. To prove it, why is it that Chrysler is axing out the Caravan for Dodge. Why is it that Ford killed the Windstar or Freestar six years ago? Minivans suck. And they are ugly. I hope the next Sedona looks a lot like the KV7. If Kia doesn’t do that, then it’ll just a big, stupid, ugly, slow acclerating minivan that just got redesigned just like allllll the others. Nothing special or unique about minivans. To tell you to truth, I’m jealous of Dodge since they will soon be ridding of that ugly minivan. Good for them. Now they have enough room to make a Highlander/Sorento rival. Bring it on Dodge the Sorento will be ready to kick that behind. And wait for the 3rd generation Sorento in 3 more years. So bring it on Dodge!!! Kia should focus more on bigger CUVS like Dodge and Jeep and leave the dumb minivans to Chrysler and Honda. Minivans the world would be a LOT better without them. I love Crossovers. The Sedona couldn’t handle the Kia Track’ster in racing. It’s too slow and stupid looking.
February 15th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
I can’t wait to see the KH tackle the BMW 7 Series and that Lexus LS. Bring it on Lexus and BMW the KH is ready to kick some a**.
February 16th, 2012 at 8:14 am
I drive about 60-65 on the freeway…I-90 they like ta go 70-75mph. Ridiculous, dudes. Screw ‘em and go slow. It’s part of what was the insanity of I-5 and the Seattle area, all the Tom, Dick and Harry’s that had ta speed around in that rat race. I like smaller areas, usually. Sometimes it’s fun ta go ta Vegas, or Seattle, etc. But I prefer the dinkier areas the most. Less of the ‘Scrubs’ crowd everywhere trying ta keep up the status quo.
February 16th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Guess what? I just saw new photos of the interior of the new Cee’d. It looks like the Optima’s interior but better looking more sporty. The Kia signature has evolved. Hint, 2013 Cee’d, KH and GT Grilles. You see the new Kia grille. It evolved more aggressive having a more appealing look. It can get more noticed. The new Signature grille stands up proudly with pride displaying the Kia badge on top. So I gotta assume there are more to come. Oh Yeah, the cee’d's new design takes after the Kia Venga’s exterior but longer and more aggressive looking. I wonder if this is the Forte for the States? If it is then move over Mazda 3 hatch the Forte hatch came over to whip some a**. Bring it on!!!!
February 16th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
2013 Kia Cee’d and Kia Kh hint face. Then again they don’t look alike and yet they do. Then again they don’t then again they do. Unlike the next generation Mazda 6 and CX-5′s click and paste face… that’s easy to do. You call Mazda’s signature appearence creative by clicking and pasting? Please!!!! Bring it on MAZDA!!! And tell Toyota to stop getting ideas for next generation models because they still suck!!! Bring it on Toyota!!! The KH is ready to tackle that GS or LS whatever class it’s in. Bring it on!!!! I see the Lexus RX got a facelift. It’s the first Lexus that uses the signature grille that actually works. But don’t worry Kia fans, the 2013 Kia Sorento facelift model will arrive looking better than that new Stylish RX. Bring it on Lexus!!!! Kia saved money on the Sorento by upgrading it and yet not making exterior changes until rivals started to outsell it. Now it needs a facelift… after all the Highlander made it to top 10 best selling CUV list and the Sorento didn’t.
February 16th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
People who say that the K9 looks like a BMW don’t know what they are talking about.
First off, the greenhouse of the K9 doesn not have the Hofmeister kink at the C-pillar (whereas the LS460 does) and the roofline is more sleek than the 5 or 7 Series.
Also, the headlight design is much more sleek (and clean) than the awful headlight designs on BMWs theses days and are angled sharply towards the A-pillar,
As for the grill, it doesn’t look much like the BMW grill – there’s only that small “pinch” at the center but that’s on all Kia grills; the grill of the new Cee’d is shaped pretty much the same and the front of the Cee’d isn’t going to be mistaken for a BMW anytime soon.
The only real BMW similarity is that the grill has vertical slats, but guess what? Tons of luxury cars have vertical slats (it’s usually either vertical or horizonatl slats for luxury sedans).
Now, the front of the K9 with the grill does jut out a bit much like on the Maserati Quatroporte but that harkens back to the racing cars of the 1950s-60s and Volvo has been doing the same as well as BMW on the new 6 Series.
The front of the K9 will simply destroy the front of the 5 or 7 Series (and I’m saying this as a long time BMW owner – as BMW designs have gone to pot).
My only disappointment with the design of the K9 is the design of the dash which is a bit traditional and “old style” and not in line with the clean, modern sheetmetal (plus, the steering wheel design looks particularly ugly).
I agree with jtz that Kia needs to sharpen the front fasica of the GT a bit and make it more masculine looking (reshape the headlights and grill and get rid of those silly oversized air scoops), but the rest of the GT is quite nice.
Also, the C-pillar design on the Optima and GT is quite different from that of the IS. The ones one the Optima and GT have a more rectangular shape and are very reminiscent of the rear window panel of the Porsche 924/944 whereas the IS’s rear window panel is shaped in a triangle (the ILX’s is kind of a hybrid of the 2).
Anyway, we’re likely not to see the K9 in the states for a few years, not until the Cadenza establishes itself in the US market and maybe not until around the time the GT is ready to launch.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:17 am
Seems I am the only dude outside of the States in here
Anyways thought you guys would like to know that Kia was the 2nd place biggest sellers in Russia for 2011 ( only Chevvy beat them – and those were 95% rebadged Diawoo’s). This year things looking like a clean fight between Hyudai and Kia with GM coming in 3rd if the first 6 weeks anything to go by. You might like to know also that the Kia Rio and the Hyudai Solaris (Russia only model) are manufactured just down the road from me (St Petersburg) and that my other half i(one of those Russian sexy brides lol) is employed as chief financial manager for Donghe which is part of the Hyundai family. Donghee make the fuel tanks and front/rear suspension support units.
February 17th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
So am I, robinrussia: I’m from Brazil, the cursed land of the most expensive cars in the world… So I guess we’ll never see the New Opirus (K9, KH) over here: it would cost the same as a 5-series…
February 17th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Hey BD I shut up 5 blogs about this looking like a farfetched Bimmer. I listed over 100 copies from German, japan and America. As long as my God given eyes work, I’m having a blast!! 2008 Ford Focus and 2008 Nissan Quest hint headlights. 2004 Lexus GX and 2004 CR-V hint face. Try it its fun. Last time Burlappcars talked about H/K copying, gas prices were $2.25 a gal.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
So I’m confused, what happened to the Kia Cadenza slated for US release in early 2012, Kia can’t be putting out two luxury mis-sized flagship vehicles for Q1, 2012 can they?… Anybody know anything about the Cadenza???
February 18th, 2012 at 8:32 am
The Cadenza should be hitting the lots in 2-3 months.
The K9 will be launched in Korea later this year (likely sometime during summer/early fall) and probably won’t make its way to the US for a couple of years.
Btw, the Cadenza is not luxury, but FWD upscale like the Azera, Avalon, Taurus, etc.
Atta boy jtz!
February 18th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Something new. The k9′s headlight is also from the 2013 k3. So the headlights for new Kia models have evolved from regular horizantal to having a unique style. Good thing too since the 2012 Honda Odessey’s headlights copied the 2011 Kia Sorento’s but since Honda is from Japan it’s original.
February 18th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Regarding the headlight shape, Kia made the rectangular headlights angled sharply their own on the Kia Kue concept.
As for the Odyssey, Honda lifted the “dip” in the windowline from the GenCoupe, but people seem to ignore that (as did GM for an Opel MPV).
Kia also did an interesting treatment to the taillights of the Optima so that at certain angles, the top line of the tail light from the side and rear seems to be continuous.
There’s also the oversized lower air scoops that are integrated into the headlights on the Veloster, but people think Hyundai copied that from the Aston One-77 even tho the Veloster concept came out 1st.
And there’s the flame-surfacing of the grill slats that Hyundai originated on the Genesis sedan – which Chryler has taken for the grills on their new products.
Hyundai was also the one to place the headight design totally on the SIDE and not intruding into the natural progression of the hoodline, as on the Sonata, but people overlook that as well.
February 19th, 2012 at 9:30 am
Hey BD you know once Hyundai’s new mpv arrive people are going to say in a girly voice,” they copied the Odyssey’s beltline…. Can’t the Koreans come out with their on designs?” ignoring that Hyundai released the concept first. But sine Honda is not Korean it’s original. They also want to act like the CX-5′s greenhouse is original ignoring that it is on the Infinti EX and 2009 Imprza Hatch. Yet they make it seem as if the KH looks like a 7 series like the CX-5 clone looks like the Subby hatch. Hey BD, the 2012-13 Lexus GS’s tailights copied the Sonata’s but since Lexus is not Korean, it’s original.
February 20th, 2012 at 5:27 am
So this is what I have so far. Kia’s new Grille has changed completly. We first saw it on the Kia GT. Now we see it on the cee’d and KH. In addition from little we can see for the next Forte… it also has that same shaped grille. So the Kia GT took the Kia Kee’s place. Think about it. When the Kia Kee first arrived, it was the grille design direction displaying the H like appearence. The GT displayed an all new shape of the grille. What does the Kia Kee and GT have in common? They are both Kia Sports cars. But the GT is more on performance and more aggressive looking. But, there is something I just can’t rest yet. If this is Kia’s new evolved grille, you know what that means? It means I’m 55% sure that this grille will be on the Rondo and Sedona……. But don’t you guys find it ironic that we have not yet seen spy shots of neither vehicle? Wouldn’t it seem that because Soul is Kia’s home land, and the Forte and KH are constantly caught on photos, wouldn’t spy shooters run into the Rondo and Sedona too? How could a big, minivan escape spy shots? And why are Forte and Kh caught on spy shots? That must mean that the Rondo and Sedona must be tested somewhere else? Either that or the Rondo and Sedona have gotten lucky. Strange don’t you think? Anyway I hear that the next Forte can debut at NY Auto show. Kia is up to something, something big, powerful, scary, aggressive, something revolutionary, something fuel efficient, mean, challenging, stylish, something I don’t even know what it is yet……..but I will find out or my name ain’t jtz.
February 20th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Porsche released a sketch of the Macan. The side profile is a cross between the Mazda CX-9 and Audi Q7…….but since the Macan ain’t Korean it’s original. If it was a Hyundai Macan that would have been said.
February 20th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
I just saw a sketch of the Ferrari 620GT. All the greenhouse is is a Chrysler Firepower Concept. But since it’s not Korean it’s orginal. If it was a Kia 620 GT that’s what would have been said. But since it’s not Korean…. it’s orginal.
February 20th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Grilles: Lincoln MKZ, Pontiac, BMW and the Fisker. But the KH’s grille is the copy even though it doesn’t have a gap just a tiger like appearence.
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:10 am
If the Cadenza is going to be released within the next few months, why was it not previewed at either Auto shows (detroit/Chicago), dealerships appear to know nothing about this car and Kia corporate will not shed any light on it either.
February 22nd, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Kia seems to like saving debuts for the New York show. Two years ago they had the Optima, Sportage, Sorento SX, and Forte 5-door all at New York.
February 25th, 2012 at 12:49 am
Kia is up to something it’s quiet. No new info or teasers. Btw I saw the new Lexus ES. NICE!!! The Cadenza needs a facelift if it is going to go on sell over here.
February 25th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Something New!!! There are spy shots of the facelifted Sorento. At first I wasn’t going to say nothing because it wasn’t like a Rondo or Sedona or anything. However, remember when I told you that Kia’s new Signature grille evolved into what is seen on the Kia GT, Cee’d and KH? Will how do we know if this new signature grille will also work on a crossover? Maybe it will maybe it won’t. Kia has hidden something on the Sorento’s grille. Why else do you guys think those ugly lights are on the front like that? Plus the lights aren’t even on so that tells you right there they don’t need them. And besides, why would they need those lights anyway whtn the KH and facelifted Sorento come with headlights and fog lights? Those lights are part of a disguise. So will the Sorento’s grille be carried over from the Kia GT? Or will the new Sorento keep the same grille and just change the fog lights, bumper and tailights a little bit? I also think Kia used the Sorento as a decoy to capture spy shooters from looking at the next Rondo and sedona about 2 or 3 miles back. Because the Sorento wasn’t redesigned, I bet you Kia used the Sorento to lead the redesigned models ahead a coupe of miles. Kia is up to somethng, something mean, scary, grounbreaking, pwoerful, impressive, stylish, artistic, fast, sporty, something I don’t even know what it is yet…….but I will find out or my name ain’t jtz. There is a reason why Sedona and Rondo are hidden from spy shots. I may not know but they do exist!!!! And they been out.
This is what I think of the next Sedona. I don’t think the Sedona is going to be like your traditional minivan. I think it’ll have a different appearce and it will have something stiking about it. I’m 75% sure it will take some cues from the Kia KV7 concept having a box like appearence. Also from what I can make out, it looks like the Sorento’s headlights will take some designs from the Kia Ray production version. I just hope the Sorento’s facelift looks better than the Lexus RX. All Lexus really did was just worked on the new signature grille. Nothing else. You’d think they would give the crossover restyled tailights too. Bring it on Lexus RX, the Sorento will be ready.
February 25th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Something else new. I read that Kia is developing a RWD 7 seater large crossover. So… Kia decided to keep the large premium utility vehicle it’s RWD platform huh? But what if this RWD crossover is on the K9′s platform? But Kia is going to have to do some SERIOUS designs that will also have people to test drive a Kia CROSOVER over the Explorer, Durango and the most award winning SUV in the world the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It’s nice to know that Kia thought of this particular segment. This segment is still needed even when gas price reach up to $5.00 a gal by this summer. Just when the economy was slowly getting better, billion dollar gas industries desire more money more rapidly. What can 60 billion dollars buy a person that 30 billion dollar can’t? To me, greed is another word for inflation. Think of gas prices aa a cable prices. And think of future electric cars as “video streaming.” Now like video streaming, electric cars can’t totally full fill people’s needs like gasoline engiens and cable companies. Video streaming can’t offer live sports, current movies and electric cars don’t have plug in stations at gas stations, college, apartment buildings’ parking lots or our jobs and their millage sucks still. So electric cars and video streaming are going to have to step up their game even more if they want to sell pick up trucks, and large SUVS while video streaming want to continue to increase their subscribers. Bring it on gas prices and cable companeis, Electric cars and video streaming is going to one day whip that a** and then they would have no choice but to decrease their prices. I hate monoploies.
February 25th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Infiniti M sedan and 2012 Mazda 6 hint greenhouse. In some angles the 2013 Lexus ES also looks a little like that from the side…. but I’ll let that slide. But since those aren’t Korean, they are orginal. Infact those two cars look more alike than the K9 looks like a BIMMER 7 series.