It would appear the new Kia Cadenza is not the top of the model range after all. The company will launch a rear-wheel-drive luxury car, perhaps by mid-2014.
According to Driving Fans’ moles inside Kia, there is a plan afoot to launch a luxury sedan to directly compete against, and share components with parent Hyundai’s Equus model. The car already exists in Korea where it’s called the K9. But for obvious reasons the car will be significantly redesigned and renamed the K900 for the North American Market. Kia dealers are now in the know about the big rear-wheel-drive flagship, which will be powered by a 420-horsepower V8. There will also be a base 300-horse V6. Driving Fans has been told the K900 will list for well over $50,000, placing it on par with the BMW 5-series, although it will be sized more like the brand’s big 7-series. Look for the K900 to appear sooner than you might think, possibly by mid-2014, with TV spots appearing during February’s Super Bowl football game.