2015 KIA K900 TESTDRIVENOW.COM QUICK TAKES

2015 KIA K900 QUICK TAKES

Modern and Elegant, the K900 Signals a New Era for Kia and Advances the Brand to New Levels of Sophistication

Highly intuitive and advanced technology combine with superb craftsmanship and materials to boldly announce Kia’s presence in the rear-drive premium-luxury sedan segment
V8 flagship features 420 horsepower1
New Premium trim further extends appeal of K900 with unsurpassed levels of standard equipment

The 2015 K900 challenges the rear-drive luxury sedan segment with an extensive list of standard equipment, world-class accommodations, premium driving dynamics and stunning design that redefines consumer perception and expectations of the Kia brand.

“Kia celebrated its 20th anniversary in the U.S. market last year, and the K900 is a symbol of how far the brand has come and a bold example of the challenger spirit that has benefitted Kia over two decades of growth and maturation,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of sales and marketing, KMA. “Kia’s rise, especially our massive growth over the last six years, has been fueled by a willingness to challenge the status quo with vehicles such as the Optima SXL, Sorento SXL and Cadenza premium sedan. As the K900 enters its second year in-market, it will continue to offer a unique alternative to the full-size rear-drive luxury sedan segment.”

Offered in two variations, Premium and Luxury, the K900’s list of standard equipment features first-class accommodations and advanced technology.

The range-topping VIP+ package adds luxury amenities including quilted Nappa leather trim seats available in two new colors: Indigo Blue and Tuscan Brown. For 2015, the K900 Premium features an optional interior Highline Package that includes beige or black Nappa leather and wood-trimmed heated steering wheel.

The K900 comes with a three-year, 37,500-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance program at participating Kia dealerships. Covering the first five service visits, the complimentary scheduled maintenance program is available to customers who either purchase or lease a new K900 and complete the maintenance work for their vehicle at exclusive K900 retailers. As an added benefit, K900 customers may enjoy the use of a Cadenza or K900 loan vehicle during their service visit2. The no-cost scheduled maintenance program, which excludes wear-and-tear items such as tires and brakes, complements Kia’s industry leading 10-year/100,000 mile new-car warranty and Roadside Assistance program3.

Elegant Exterior Design
The first glance of the K900 is designed to leave an indelible impression. The long 119.9-inch wheelbase and wide 63.8-inch front and 64.1-inch rear track of the K900 translate to considerable road presence.

In profile, the swept rake of the greenhouse, subdued cut lines along the doors and high rear deck lid lend a muscular tension to the sheet metal. The K900 standard 19-inch multi-spoke wheels are shod with 245/45R-19 tires up front and 275/40R-19 tires at the rear.

Kia’s signature grille is nearly vertical within the smoothly contoured front fascia. A chrome halo surrounds the dark chrome inner elements, which hint at the power and potential lurking behind. Airflow-smoothing underbody panels mounted beneath the nose, engine bay and cabin help reduce drag, improving efficiency and minimizing wind noise.

HID headlights are standard on the Premium K900, while advanced LED headlights are featured on the Luxury and VIP+. Both lighting technologies are further enhanced with Dynamic Bending Lights, which adjust the headlights to follow the bends in the road, providing additional driver confidence. The cutting-edge LED headlights feature 16 individual bulbs emitting powerful, natural light for greater visibility. The beams shimmer beneath crystal clear lenses that pull back deeply into the front fenders. Soft-glow LEDs frame the multi-faceted headlights. Mounted low and at the far corners of the nose are sleek LED daytime running lamps and LED fog lights. Similar use of LED technology can be found at the rear of the K900.

The trapezoid taillights offer diffused LEDs for the brakes and bright LEDs for the turn signals. A tasteful chrome bezel cuts high across the K900’s standard powered rear deck lid, adding elegance and lending visual width. The standard power and heated side-view mirrors integrate auto dimming technology with LED turn signal indicators and available Blind Spot Detection System (BSD)[iv] in a smooth, aerodynamic form that helps reduce wind noise. The rear bumper is accented with fully integrated dual chrome-tipped exhaust ports that mimic the shape of the taillights.

Opulence Within
Open the door to the K900 and the same sense of elegant sophistication can be found within the luxuriously appointed cabin.

The three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel is substantial and features controls for audio, cruise control, and vehicle information.

A heated steering wheel is standard as is Nappa leather trim seating on the Luxury and VIP+. Soft-hue LED interior illumination is standard across the K900 line. Standard on the Premium trim with Interior Highline package, Luxury and VIP+ is genuine walnut or poplar wood trim that sweeps across the dash and door panels, beautifully complementing the richness of the interior.

A 12-way adjustable driver’s seat, including power lumbar support, is standard while the VIP+ package includes a 16-way power adjustable driver’s seat featuring power headrests and cushion extension for added thigh support. The front seats feature standard multi-stage heating and ventilation for individualized comfort in all climates.

The K900’s executive-class accommodations continue at the rear of the cabin. Standard features include multi-stage heating for the outboard seats. Accessing a panel within the center armrest, rear-seat passengers also have the ability to tailor the climate control system to their desired temperature, as well as operate the standard power rear window sunshade. For additional comfort, retractable rear side window sunshades are standard across all models. A full-length panoramic sunroof with power retractable sunshade is also included on all K900s.

Opting for the VIP+ package takes rear seat comfort to another level. Both seats offer multi-stage heating and cooling, have the ability to independently recline and incorporate power lumbar support and lateral headrest adjustability. The VIP+ package offers refined luxury with quilted Nappa leather seat trim, four-way front passenger power lumbar support and exclusive interior colors of Indigo Blue and Tuscan Brown. A chauffeur seat switch allows the driver to maximize rear passenger room instantly by sliding the passenger seat forward at the touch of a button.

Sophisticated, Intuitive Technology and Safety
Well known for providing intuitively placed controls and easily accessible technology, Kia continues this tried-and-true practice in the 2015 K900.

On the VIP+, front and center for the driver is the largest TFT instrument panel ever offered in a Kia vehicle. At 12.3 inches, the full-color LCD screen is at once easy to read and configurable, featuring different themes depending on the drive mode selected. Also included with the VIP+ package is Kia’s first Head-Up Display (HUD)5. The innovative full-color, height-adjustable display “floats” just over the leading edge of the windshield providing the driver important information such as vehicle speed, turn-by-turn navigation, and alerts including the Blind Spot Detection System (BSD)4 and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)4.

First-class in-car entertainment comes standard on the Luxury and VIP+ trims in the form of a 900-watt Lexicon® high-fidelity audio system, the most powerful and advanced system ever offered by Kia. An audiophile’s dream come true, the Lexicon system features a trunk-mounted 12-channel digital amplifier, 17 speakers, including a center channel and an inverted subwoofer located in the rear parcel shelf. The inverted design helps minimize encroachment into the trunk. The speaker arrangement is a bespoke design for the interior of the K900 to optimize sound quality for every seat in the house. Standard infotainment features include Bluetooth®6 hands free accessibility, HD Radio™7, three-month complimentary SiriusXM® satellite programming8 along with AUX and USB ports conveniently accessed through a soft-close genuine wood-covered panel in the center console.

The audio system, along with standard navigation and Kia’s exclusive UVO eServices9 telematics software, are all displayed on a 9.2-inch full-color screen that is accessible through a new standard Driver Information System (DIS) found in the center console. Using a simple rotary knob surrounded by intuitively placed direct-access buttons, the DIS falls naturally to the driver’s right hand, allowing immediate access to the K900’s wide range of advanced systems, including entertainment and voice-command navigation functions. All K900s come standard with a power-operated trunk lid. A slim credit-card-style smart-key entry system, which welcomes the vehicle owner by automatically extending the outside rearview mirrors and activating perimeter lighting, is standard on Luxury and VIP+ package.

Front and rear park-assist sensors and cameras are standard across the line for enhanced confidence and convenience4. Auditory cues notify the driver as the vehicle approaches an object with the tones emanating from the speaker located closest to the object. The parking display also indicates distance to the object via green, yellow and red lines, providing a visual aid to the driver.

The K900 Luxury and VIP+ come standard with Kia’s first Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system4, which provides an audible warning to the driver if cross traffic is detected from the rear while the vehicle is in Reverse. Opting for the VIP+ package nets the new Surround View Monitor system4, which utilizes four discreetly placed wide-angle mini-cameras at the front and rear and within the outside rear view mirrors. The cameras provide a nearly 360-degree view of anything within several feet of the K900, providing convenience benefits as well as easier maneuvering in tight spaces.

A Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)4 is standard on the Luxury and VIP+ trims. The camera-based LDWS monitors the K900’s position and provides visual and auditory warnings to the driver when the vehicle begins to drift too close to the lane markers. First introduced on the Cadenza, radar-based Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC)4 is available on the K900 and included within the VIP+ package. ASCC adjusts vehicle speed to help maintain a set distance to the vehicle in front and has the ability to bring the K900 to a full stop. For added convenience, the system may automatically accelerate the vehicle once traffic allows.

The K900 introduces Kia’s first use of Advanced Vehicle Safety Management (AVSM)10. Integrating the control of various vehicle monitoring systems, including the Electronic Stability Control (ESC), seatbelt mechanisms and multiple warning systems, the AVSM can alert the driver to danger, pre-pressurize the braking system and activate the optional Pre-Safe Belt (PSB) system11, depending on the anticipated level of collision risk.

Flagship Performance
A flagship should be equipped with the proper running gear, and the K900 lacks for nothing.

The K900 offers the first-ever V8 engine in a Kia sedan. The Tau DOHC all-aluminum 32-valve five-liter engine produces 420 horsepower. The engine is designed for efficiency with Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) and dual CVVT variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust.

A specially tuned air intake improves airflow while a roller-type timing chain and Teflon®12 coated crank oil seal reduce frictional losses. The fast-heating catalytic converter helps reduce emissions and is of a lightweight design. The V8 is mated to a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. Shift mapping is variable depending on the driver-selectable settings of Eco, Normal and Sport, and each mode also adjusts the electric steering’s sensitivity.

Advanced five-link fully independent front and rear suspension soaks up road imperfections while also managing to communicate what’s happening at each corner. Mounted on a sub-frame to isolate road shocks, the front suspension has coaxial coil-spring shock absorbers, and a new friction bearing in the steering column enhances straight-line stability and steering precision. At the rear, the suspension sub-frame also houses the differential, and the coil springs and shock absorbers are separate units, allowing for negative camber for improved cornering ability.

The rear-drive layout of the K900 encourages spirited driving, and the solid chassis, consisting of 75 percent high and ultra-high tensile strength steel, utilizes advanced manufacturing methods that result in a body shell with exceptional strength and torsional rigidity.

The K900 VIP+ includes standard Continental P245/45P-19 front and P275/40R-19 rear tires (available optionally on Premium and Luxury trims) with 19-inch chrome alloy wheels. NVH is kept to a minimum with standard laminated front and side window glass and generous use of sound reducing materials.