Al Majid Motors Announces Arrival Of High-Tech Luxury Sedan Kia K8

A brand’s ultimate luxury statement is supposed to be one that revolutionises everything from design to engineering to comfort. Kia, which has been raising the bar in recent times with path-breaking innovations in the design department, had a go at this notion and endowed its UAE audience with a sedan named Quoris. It was as majestic as we could demand and more. However, maybe the brand reputation or the marketing was just not enough to persuade more buyers to purchase it. This time however, Kia seems to have done its homework very well and expects to claw back a huge chunk of the pie from the executive class Germans with its K8, a sinister looking replacement for the Quoris which is all set to make its underrated progenitor proud. Let’s dig deeper into the flesh.

Design

Save for the ardent petrolheads, it would be difficult for many to recognise this as a Kia product upon just a sneak peek. However, grab a microscope and fine details such as the signature ‘Tiger-nose grille’ with elegant diamond pattern adorning it are great details to quote. Sharp and squint headlamps add glitter to its appeal. However, diamond appliques below the headlamps and an aeroplane rear wing shaped element on the peripheral portion of the bumper is unlike anything else seen before, although a bit gaudy.

Similar to the K5, its bigger sibling also clads a fastback design which apparently gives us the impression of being longer than its length. Elements such as chrome garnishing near the C-pillar are there to make it stand out from the crowd against the otherwise simplistic side profile. 

However, it is the rear which is likely to grab the most eyeballs with its boomerang-shaped tail lamps and a light strip nicely placed in between them. However, this also serves as a requiem for the new-age Audi taillamp designs. 

Interior and features

It is no less than a business-class suite when you step inside and lay your eyes on the wood grain surrounded by the ambient lighting system which suits your mood. The cockpit is oriented towards the driver for easy reach. Beige colour layout for the steering wheel, a nice slab of chrome with Meridien speaker engraved on it and the theme of black, beige and wood finish running across the border are enough to leave one stupefied. 

It scores reasonably high on the features front with a head-up display, 12.3” curved display, 14-speaker Meridien system and the new take on automatic transmission, shift-by-wire transmission knob which has a nice posh feel to it. It also gets ventilation on all seats and 3-zone climate control to serve the big bosses. Some features are of indispensable worth such as rear occupant alert system which notified if your young one is left unattended and an advanced driver assistance package bringing in hosts of features such as forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and a surround view monitor through which you can be appraised of the tomfooleries played in your surroundings.

Performance

The engine which has been doing its duty incessantly for years with Kia and Hyundai’s range of vehicles, is the 3.5-litre engine with 300 hp and 366 Nm of torque. It comes coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

On the face of it, the new K8 takes things to a whole new level with and with a starting price of just AED 133,000 topping out at AED 180,000 it makes for a very strong business case for itself. It appears to be too good to be true, but it forsooth is. German and Japanese executive sedans, better start looking over your shoulders.