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On the 17th, Kia confirmed the car name of the K7’s successor model as’K8′ and revealed the exterior design.
The K8 is the first new car to be released after Kia changed its name from Kia Motors to’Kia’. It is also the first car to be applied with Kia’s new emblem.
Kia is known to have worked hard to preserve this meaning while developing the K8. Particular attention was paid to the exterior design released that day.
A bumper-integrated radiator grille is applied to the front part. This grille embodies the movement of light following a diamond-inspired jewel-like pattern, giving it a sophisticated and luxurious feel.
The total length is 5015mm, which is 20mm longer than the 4995mm of the previous K7. This is longer than the competing model Grandeur (4990mm), and has a symbolic meaning that the overall length exceeded 5m for the first time in its class. It even has a longer overall length than the luxury brand G80 (4995mm).
The’Rear Lamp Cluster’, which is composed of left and right rear lamps and graphics connecting them, emphasizes the wide body width with a geometrical shape that feels a three-dimensional effect. The K8 logo is placed concisely. An official from Kia said, “We plan to sequentially release the interior space, driving performance, and advanced driving assistance technology suitable for the new car name K8.”
This year, Kia plans to target the semi-large market, the largest passenger car market this year, with the K8. Last year, K5 and Sorento took over the midsize sedan and semi-large SUV markets.
K5 sold 86,450 units in Korea last year, exceeding the Hyundai Sonata (67,440 units), and Sorento sold 82,275 units, far exceeding the sales of Santa Fe (57,578 units). Both car models won overwhelming victory over Hyundai in the family fight.
However, in front of the K8, the Grandeur, the number one best-selling car last year, stands. The Grandeur sold 14,5463 units last year. The K7, the predecessor of the K8, sold only 41,048 units.
However, the fact that the effect of the new car is weakening after Granger launched a partially modified model in November 2019 is an opportunity factor for the K8. The Grandeur, which steadily sold more than 10,000 units a month on average last year, declined with 8081 units sold in January this year.
An industry insider said, “If the K8 catches the attention of consumers like the K5 that caused a blast with design, we can compete with the Granger.” “The family fight between the Grandeur and the K8 over the semi-large sedan market is the point of view of the automobile market this year. It will be.”
Meanwhile, K8 is scheduled to be released in the second quarter of this year.