KIA Builds a RWD V8 Sedan

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South Korean brand is developing a new big sedan that could take on the Commodore, writes Bruce Newton. DRIVE.

South Korean brand Kia is heading into Commodore territory with a new big sedan.

Large V8 rear-wheel drive saloons debuting at Europe's major motor shows aren't that unusual, but September's Frankfurt show could see evolving Korean budget brand Kia showing off its first ever rear-driver - muscling in on Benz and BMW's homeground.

Referred to in the press as the K9 - a name (canine - gettit?) that certainly won't make it into production- the biggest, boldest Kia yet has been styled under the direction of former Audi/VW designer Peter Schreyer.

The prospect of the German - who left the VW Group after a fall-out with his then boss Murat Gunak - coming back to home territory to debut a very Germanic car from a very un-Germanic brand is delicious.

While Schreyer would not talk directly about the K9 when recently questioned by Drive, his enthusiasm for such a project was obvious.

"I think when you can work with the rear-wheel drive proportion it is always good for the designer," he said. "For a big sedan it is the better proportion; fantastic proportion of course."

Asked if the K9 represented the next step in Kia's design language he said: "Always we try to do that ... but I cannot talk about things that are probably in development."

Schreyer, who cites the original BMW 5-Series sedan as a styling inspiration, was responsible for the first-generation Audi A6, which is regarded as one of the sleekest sedan shapes of all time (albeit front/all-wheel drive) . He is best known for styling the original TT and the VW New Beetle.

At Kia he has overhauled the company's line-up and image with a series of clean and attractive designs including the Sportage SUV and Optima sedan.

Of course the K9 might not be at Frankfurt, it could instead be at Detroit in January - another show where rear-wheel drive is a byword. Drive has heard rumours Kia could unveil its new sports car at Frankfurt, but wherever the K9 turns up it will be soon as open-road testing photography is starting to appear.

They show a car with both BMW 7-Series and Maserati Quattroporte design cues.

Under the skin is the second-generation Genesis architecture and V6 and V8 engines from Kia's parent Hyundai.

While the new Genesis is expected to be available in right-hand drive there is no suggestion the K9 is Australia-bound. A RWD V8 the size of the Holden Caprice is a pretty big stretch for a company that is best known for small cars and SUVs.

Nevertheless, Kia Motors Australia COO Tony Barlow wasn't ruling anything out completely.

"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," he said.

"It is far too early at this stage to be any more precise about the car but we will definitely maintain a watching brief."