Are large sedans still alive? The updated KIA K8 gives an affirmative answer, while demonstrating considerable design changes.
From now on, the KIA K8 sedan is made in the company’s new corporate style, which has led to a completely new “face”: vertical headlights, a new grille, and a new front bumper. Also, 20-inch wheels with a complex geometric design were added and the rear bumper was slightly changed. Moreover, the changes in the bumpers led to an increase in size – and now the length of the KIA K8 has reached 5.05 meters.
However, there are no changes under the hood. The base variant is a gasoline 4-cylinder 2.5-liter engine developing 198 hp. An alternative is a 3.5-liter V6 in a regular gasoline version (300 hp) or in LPI version (then 240 hp) with the ability to run on liquefied natural gas. All of these engines are available with an 8-speed automatic and front-wheel drive, and for the most powerful V6 variant, even all-wheel drive is offered as an option. Later, a hybrid version of the KIA K8 should also return to the range: a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and an electric motor, as well as a 6-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.
Inside the KIA K8, the driver will find a new front panel with modified ventilation deflectors and climate control unit, completely redesigned display frames and the center console – the round automatic selector remains, but the buttons around it have changed. Finally, it is worth noting the new steering wheel, the design of which evokes associations with non-format wheel disks.
Currently, the updated KIA K8 sedan is preparing to start its career in South Korea, the price is already known – from $27.4 thousand for the 4-cylinder version and from $30 thousand for the V6 engine.
Of course, we could start singing the song “the car is not for Ukraine, what’s the point?” again if it weren’t for the fact that we have quite unexpected new products from KIA: EV6 and EV9 electric cars, as well as the updated KIA Sorento. So who knows how it will turn out in the future – suddenly the KIA K8 sedan will become global and will be available even in Ukraine.
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