Kia Teases New "K9" Rear-Wheel Drive Flagship Sedan with Official Renderings

It's been known for a while now that Kia is planning to enhance its range with a flagship sedan model, which most refer to as the K9.

While the South Korean automaker has yet to confirm the name, what it did do is drop the first official sketches and details on its upcoming proposal in the in the large sedan segment.

For the time being, Kia tells us that the car known by its internal designation "KH" will be the company's first ever rear-wheel drive sedan and it will go on sale in Korea by June this year with launch timings for other markets including North America to be confirmed at a later date.

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MINI Beware: Kia Thinks Big with Track'ster Concept that Could Spawn a 3-Door Soul

Without doubt, the spotlights at this year's edition of the Chicago Auto Show are on the Koreans. Following the presentation of Hyundai's new Elantra GT and Coupe models, its sister company Kia has unveiled an impressive concept model for a sporty, three-door version of the Soul called the Track'ster

Of course, if you throw in a pair of round headlights and vertical tail lamps, the Track'ster could very well be a conceptual proposal for high-performance Mini model…

That's not to say the Track'ster hasn't got character but many details like the alloy wheel designs, the blacked out front pillars, the two-tone paint job and the prominent LED driving lights on the lower part of the front bumper do have a certain British flavor.

"The idea was to make the Track'ster tough looking, like a bulldog," said Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia's Californian design studio, which was responsible for the creation of the Track'ster.

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Kia Publishes Another Photo of its Track’ster Concept Car

Even though the 2012 Chicago Auto Show will open its doors to the members of the press in less than 48 hours from now, Kia continues to play the teasing game with its new Track’ster concept car releasing a second picture of its Soul-based model.

The study is supposed to give us an idea of what a sportier three-door version of the Soul would look like with Kia saying that it's only a design concept for now. We assume that the company’s future plans will largely depend on the reactions of the public.

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Kia Says Soul'ster Concept is Under Final Assessment for Production

It's been three years since Kia pulled the wraps off its conceptual Soul'ster convertible truck at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show. Kia fueled some rumors at the time that it was considering a production version of the car but never followed up on it. Until today, that is.

Unexpectedly, in the press statement on the Track'ster Concept that's scheduled to debut at the Chicago Auto Show next week, Kia dropped the ball saying that the Soul’ster convertible is "currently under final assessment for production".

The Korean maker did not elaborate further but we assume that if it receives the green light, the Soul'ster should be on its way to the market very soon.

The original concept is a two-door mixture of convertible and pickup models with seating for four passengers. It features a shortened windshield for a more hunkered down appearance and is equipped with a two-piece removable top residing on a roll bar that provides additional protections for the occupants.

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New Kia Track'ster Concept based on the Soul Heads to Chicago Auto Show

This is the first official teaser rendering of Kia's latest concept based on the Soul crossover. It's called the Track'ster and it will make its first public appearance at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show next week.

Penned in Kia's California design studio, the Track'ster shows how a more sporty, three-door version of the Soul could look like, though the South Korean automaker is quick to point out that currently, there are no plans for a production version.

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Rumors: Kia Insiders Say GT RWD Sedan Could be Joined by Coupe and Sport Wagon

Kia's ascent from an inexpensive maker of bland products to a company that aspires to compete with the heavy weights in the mainstream segments continues with the South Korean firm now planning to introduce its first-ever rear-wheel drive model based on the GT concept we saw at the Frankfurt Motor Show this past September.
But the sedan model, which is expected to make its appearance in production form as early as 2013, may not be alone if we are to believe a report from Edmunds' Insideline.
Citing company insiders, the report says that Kia is also considering adding an even sportier two-door coupe version as well as a more practical station wagon model to the range of the production GT.
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Kia Optima gets Basketball-Theme Costume Not for Halloween, but for the SEMA Show

It's all about fun and games when it comes to Kia's 2011 SEMA Show displays as the Korean manufacturer has arrived in Las Vegas with a roster of six sports-themed vehicles.

These include the Surfboard Rio and Hockey Forte hatchbacks that we showed you earlier today, plus the golf-themed Soul, Rio 5-Door B-Spec Racer, USTCC Optima Hybrid Pace Car and the “Slam Dunk” Blake Griffin Optima Hybrid featured here.

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Kia Joins Forces with Antenna Magazine to Build Rio and Forte Specials for SEMA Show

Less than 24 hours before the doors open at the 2011 edition of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show and Kia Motors has revealed a pair of tricked concept models that will make their debut in Las Vegas.

Both the Rio 5-Door Surf and the Forte 5-Door Hockey were built in partnership with Antenna magazine.

Starting with the 2012 Rio, the surf-themed tuning project features a sunset-metallic golden-brown paint along with a custom body kit with a front splitter made of wood that matches the surfboard on the roof, and rear fascia with center-mount exhaust. A set of 17-inch three-piece gold wheels and a Thule roof rack that holds the surfboard complete the look.

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IAA 2011: Kia's RWD GT Concept Hints at Production Version [Updated Gallery]

The all-new Kia GT Concept that will make its world premiere at the 64th IAA is the South Korean company's first ever attempt to create a rear-wheel drive model. It is also the most powerful thanks to a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 engine that delivers an output of 390HP and 534 Nm (393.8 lb-ft) of torque that are sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Even though development of the concept began less than a year ago, in November 2010, Kia’s European design team has been considering a rear-wheel drive car for quite some time.

The South Korean manufacture's chief designer Peter Schreyer explains: “This concept allows us to explore exciting new design directions, as using a rear-wheel drive layout creates very different proportions compared to a front-wheel drive car".

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We Hear: New Kia GT Concept gets V6 Turbo Engine, May Inspire a Production Model

Continuing our flow of stories from the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, we now have some fresh news on the Kia GT sports saloon concept, new pictures of which we showed yesterday.

The South Korean maker had told us the GT will feature a traditional layout with the engine mounted up front and power being delivered to the rear wheels, however, we knew nothing about the motor lurking under the hood. Up until now, that is.

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New Photos of Kia's RWD GT Sports Sedan Concept

Apparently, the release of the first official batch of photos of Kia's Frankfurt Motor Show-bound concept car couldn't keep the floodgates from opening as today, a fresh group of pictures were posted online.

Aside from providing us with a better view of the exterior and a first look at the interior design, the new images also reveal that Kia's so-called four-door coupe concept is aptly named GT.

While Kia is keeping most details under cover, the South Korean car manufacturer has disclosed that the concept sports a front engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

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Kia Raises the Stakes with RWD Four-Door Coupe Concept

It should be quite clear to everyone now that Hyundai and its Kia affiliate have lifted the bar and are now looking to compete with brands that used to shun them.

At the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September, we're going to get a taste of Kia's newly found ambitions with a dramatic looking four-door coupe concept that may hint at a future production model.

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Rumors: Kia to Unveil V8 RWD Sports Car Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show

During the past few years, Kia has completely transformed its image from a manufacturer of affordable, but rather unexceptional, cars to that of an automaker that offers a stylish and coherent range, thanks in no small part to the hiring of ex-VW Group designer Peter Schreyer. Now, however, it is moving in uncharted waters if a recent report from What Car is accurate. Read more »

Kia Officials Hint at New Premium RWD K9 Sedan Based on the Genesis

South Korea’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Co. is leaving no stone unturned in its quest for world domination. Having already pushed its Hyundai brand into new territories with the Genesis and Equus premium sedans as well as the sporty, rear-wheel drive Genesis Coupe, the Koreans now appear to be focusing on the company’s second brand, Kia.

We first heard rumors about a range topping Kia sedan referred to by most as the K9 in late 2009, but now, the word is coming from two company officials.

"We have an interest in all new models under development. A rear-wheel-drive premium sedan could be seen as a logical step from the Optima to the next level of Kia development," Kia Motors Australia COO Tony Barlow told Drive, an Australian car site. "It is far too early at this stage to be any more precise about the car but we will definitely maintain a watching brief,” he added.

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Kia Unveils Naimo EV Concept at Seoul Motor Show

Making its world premiere today at the at the Seoul Motor Show, is Kia’s Naimo electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV), a B-segment sized concept car that will serve as a test-bed for the company's EV technology. Penned by Kia's international design team in Seoul, the car takes its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, which is pronounced ‘Neh-mo’ and means ‘square shape.

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Kia KV7 Concept Live from 2011 Detroit Motor Show

Unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, the gullwing-door Kia KV7 is a concept on a mission, aiming to change the perception about conventional MPVs. The South Korean automaker beleives that a people carrier should not only be roomy and versatile, but also eccentric and packed with the latest available technologies.

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Gullwing-door Kia KV7 Concept Flies into Detroit

After two teaser shots and a couple of leaked images earlier today, Kia’s “activity MPV” concept, the KV7, finally hit the showroom floor at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.Designed to challenge the notion that minivans are strictly for transporting people, the KV7 stands out with its boxy design and, according to the Koreans, also wants to serve as a “connected social hub for groups of friends and adventure-seekers”.

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First Photos of Kia's Detroit Show KV7 Concept Study

We've already seen a teaser rendering of Kia's new KV7 concept, but the first real-life photos of the South Korean automaker's Detroit motorshow-bound design study have just made their way onto the internet. Official details remain slim, but we do know that the crossover concept with the very Ford Flex-like shape and the Gullwing-style rear doors has been penned at Kia's California design studio. We'll have more on the KV7 from the Cobo Center later today.

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Detroit Preview: Kia Publishes One More Teaser of its KV7 Concept Study

In a few days from now, we'll get to see Kia's all-new KV7 crossover concept in the flesh at the Detroit Motor Show, but until then, we have one more teaser to share with you. This time, the South Korean firm released a cropped image of the actual concept model, providing a sneak peak of the KV7's front end. Previously, Kia had shown a rendering of the crossover model revealing the study's gullwing-style rear doors.

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New Kia KV7 Crossover Concept Heading to Detroit Motor Show

Kia is giving us our first glimpse of its all-new KV7 concept model, which will have its world premiere at next month's 2011 Detroit Motor Show. Aside from the teaser rendering you see pictured above, the Korean firm didn't really reveal any details on the funky crossover model that features a set of Gullwing-style rear doors, but if you insist, we've added the press release after the jump.

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