Done.

what a goofy freaking name.

K900 for $59,000 with all the business or a E550 for $2k more (albeit base) or a 535i with a few options or a A6 3.0T Prestige (LEDs and Cold weather) or a Lexus GS350 F-Sport (with the $8,600 package).

I think it's going to struggle. Especially when you can argue that Hyundai has a better image now than Kia.

$50k should be the price, maybe $47k.

Considering Genesis R Spec is $46k ($40k in real world), even though it has more luxury items than R spec but it should not be $13k over Genesis R spec, especially when it is carry KIA Badge.

^^ You are comparing this to the wrong Hyundai....it should be compared to the Hyundai Equus.

I think this is Kia's flagship like the Equus is to Hyundai.

Yup. They're the twins, not the Genesis.

That said, I would buy the Equus over this. New, not a good deal.

18 months old with 10,000 miles it's a steal. I just don't have the need for car like this or that's what I'd buy.

I can't imagine people who would buy a Lexus would even consider a Kia, but I guess I could be wrong.

I know. But I was just talking about price as a selling point.

K900 can't go head to head with Equus even though it has pretty much everything Equus has, because it is Kia.

That is why it should be only slightly more expensive than the most expensive Genesis (Rspec) and a lot cheaper than Equus if Kia wants the K900 to be somewhat successful.

Most people don't think Hyundai is a cut above Kia.
Most view them as one and the same.

really? i always thought Hyundai is 1 level up above Kia

That's your perception.

There share virtually everything: powertrains/engines/platforms/bodies.

Sure Hyundai may have some models that Kia does not have, but now with the K900, those gaps are being filled.

Then again there is Kia product that Hyundai does not carry as well.

FWIW
Optima >>> Sonata

So is Kia going to have the same concierge service as Hyundai on the Equus?

^^ You better get that for your $60k

I have not read that you do.

So, what's the difference between Kia and Hyundai...? Or is the fact that Kia was meant to be a "lower tier" no longer in play and just grow both independently?

It's like Chevy and Pontiac, or Ford and Mercury.

Kia has not been "lower tier" for some time now.
Hyundai owns around 35% of Kia.

Hyundai has no interest in wanting Kia as a lower tier.
Hence why they are near "sister" companies.

Sure they share virtually everything in terms of vehicle bodies, engines, transmissions...etc, but unlike the old badge engineering of GM, Hyundai and Kia have distinctively different exterior styles.

Public perception-wise (among the general public), Hyundai has the better brand image than Kia, but when it comes things like ATP, Kia sometimes does better.

For example, the Optima has a higher ATP than the Sonata and due to demand, offers a more luxurious trim (the SX-L) on the Optima than what Hyundai offers for the Sonata.

For some months last year, the Optima's ATP was higher than the Accord's (usually, the Passat, Fusion and Accord are the top 3).

Toyota has a better brand image than just about any of the mainstream brands save maybe Honda, but the Camry has a lower ATP than even the Chrysler 200.

I have always felt Kia was cheaper, but that was just my perception. Either way, they have both made huge leaps in the past 10 to 15 years. I think Hyundai could introduce a luxury brand if they absolutely blow the doors off the first couple of models.

Don't care about badge. The K900 is better looking than the RLX and has more features. My son would go NUTS over ventilated and heated rear seats. I sat in the K900 at the NAIAS last month and I swear to God, I did NOT want to leave that rear seat.

In a year when people are getting stellar deals because it's a slow seller, the V8 model will be officially on my radar.

Couldnt agree more. Kia/Hyundai are going forward in the right direction hitting most marks. Acura seems to be missing what everyone else is doing and what it takes.

I happen to agree with that, and I think it's because of cars like the Soul that Kia pushes like crazy.

Hyundai has been carefully crafting a more "premium" image than Kia in their advertising. I still think in the end, Hyundai and Kia need to roll out a "Luxury" badge though. I have a hard time believing that the BMW/Mercedes/etc crowd will be able to look past the badge on the hood. The K900 seems to check off the right boxes, I just can't see too many of these people admitting to their 5-series/E-class driving friends that they drive a Kia.

I totally agree. If I had kids, I'd be looking at a used Eqqus rather than a loaded A4 for sure.

Reminds me of when the Genesis first started hitting the streets. I was going neighborhood security & it took me a few weeks to figure out what it was
No Hyundai badges on it, just wings & the Genesis in them was too hard to read when they were driving by.

How is the Audi A8 an 'industry' Heavyweight when it sold only a third of the Lexus LS for the longest time and even last year(their best year) they still only did half of the LS numbers?

An industry 'Heavyweight' is a luxury brand that can actually crack 9000+ Units with their flagship. Something Audi haven't come close to doing.

It's surreal how a 7% Luxury Market player like Audi have been put on this high peak that they have not yet earned. Simply because they got some 'cool super fast cars' that nobody buys.

You can't imagine it? Because it's unimaginable. No Lexus buyer will consider a Kia. The vast majority of Lexus Buyers consider themselves fully capable of shopping for BMW/Mercedes/Audi..............they rarely even look at Infiniti/Acura/Cadillac.......... much less Kia.


Maybe Hyundai/Kia can steal some Acura ILX costumers.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/less-tha...#ixzz2uZ07SQPA

I was just at a showroom today...they had one white one sitting right there on the floor.

Very very nice, liked it since seeing it at the auto show.

Now, lets see who is willing to spend 63g on it.

Figure there will be something like a 75-25% split btwn the V6 K900 and the V8 K900.

And for those buying the V8, they'll probably be spending more like $56-57k than paying anything close to MSRP.

Ive seen 2 on the roads around here already. I have yet to see a RLX around here, and our dealer has yet to sell one as far as the last time i was in there and asked.

That KIA cadenza looks awful

Love the commercial with Morpheus.

unlike Acura's Ads, it actually make sense.

Quiet, Luxury and so powerful it will destroy everything if needed.

This is not the Cadenza.

Yet ANOTHER manufacturer that knows how to make ads and market their vehicle. Come on Acura, Get with the program.

So, would someone looking to spend $60,000+ think "let's go to the Kia dealer and check out their cars"?

unless you're balling, people are still looking for value.
which acura had/held that niche.

I think people will go check it out for the "value" perception. The Germans tend to get really expensive once you add nav, HID's, everything else.

im sorry but add more buttons to make it look space age and suddenly its worth $60k+. what are the driving dynamics like in this car? anyone drive one yet?

For what you get for the dollar compared to the Germans? Hell yea! The same way my dad got the Genesis over the 5 series when he was looking at new cars.

There is more to this car than more buttons.