Kia to release K8 as early as March
“The body was raised and the luxury was added”
Kia unveiled the appearance of the K8, the successor to the semi-large sedan K7. Photo = Kia
Kia is preparing for the final release of the K8, the successor to the semi-large sedan K7. Interest is focused on whether the K8, which is wearing Kia’s new emblem, will be able to beat Hyundai Motor’s Grandeur, the largest sales sedan in Korea.
According to the automobile industry on the 17th, the Kia K8 is expected to be released as early as in March. The K8 is a 3rd generation model that returns after a full change (complete change) in about 5 years after the 2nd generation K7 was released in 2016.
On this day, Kia confirmed the car name as K8 and revealed the exterior design of K8. It is known that Kia recently completed the emission and noise certification from the Ministry of Environment to release △1.6 gasoline turbo GDI hybrid △2.5 GDI △3.5 GDI △3.5 LPI with the K8 powertrain.
Kia’s new emblem will also be attached to the K8 for the first time in the brand. The idea is to announce that it is the first model to open a new generation of Kia.
Kia unveiled the appearance of the K8, the successor to the semi-large sedan K7. Photo = Kia
The K8 is characterized by a larger body than the previous model and enhanced sense of luxury and marketability. The overall length is 5015mm, which is larger than the 4990mm Grandeur. On the front part, a diamond pattern borderless bumper-integrated radiator grille was applied to further emphasize the luxury. The tiger face design of the new K5 was applied to the rear, adding sportiness and agility.
Kia explained, “The daytime running lights and turn signals will also have the same diamond pattern as the radiator grille, creating a mysterious atmosphere.”
The interior space and high-tech and convenient specifications have not yet been disclosed, but specifications such as high-quality seats are expected to be loaded generously. It is known that from the 3.5 GDI model, the four-wheel drive system that is not available in the Grandeur is also supported as an option. It is evaluated that the application of four-wheel drive as a domestic sedan is somewhat unusual.
The industry expects the K8 to be positioned as an intermediate model between the Grandeur and the Genesis G80. It is analyzed that the reason that Kia increased the car body of the existing K7 and added a sense of luxury was a strategy to surpass the Grandeur.
The K7 is rated as Grandeur’s rival, but it has never won by sales except in 2010. The K7, which first appeared as a first-generation model in November 2009, sold 5,640 units that year, signaling an exciting start. The following year, the company achieved annual sales of 42,544 units, surpassing the Grandeur sales (32,893 units).
Granger/ Photo = Hyundai Motor Company
But there was no second. Granger achieved sales of 107854 units in 2011 and maintained sales of around 80,000 to 90,000 units after surpassing the sales of 100,000 units. Meanwhile, the sales volume of K7 was only 20,000 units. With the release of the second-generation full-change model in 2016, the sales volume increased to 50,000 units, but it ended with a sparkling effect.
Granger has sold over 100,000 units a year since 2017, and last year, it sold 145,533 units in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19), recording the highest annual sales volume ever. They overtook the Sonata and took over the seat of the’national car’.
Meanwhile, K8, the successor to K7, appeared to be over 5m tall. It is a part of attention as to whether the K8 will be able to repay the K7’s sadness behind the Grandeur.
Kia plans to increase its domestic market share from 29.9% last year to 30.9% this year, starting with the K8, which turned into a weapon this year. Kia President Song Ho-sung said at Investor Day on the 9th, “We will continue to sell the Sorento and Carnival launched last year and increase the market share to 31% through K7 follow-up models and CVs.”
Shin Hyun-ah, Hankyung.com reporter [email protected]
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