Kia
Although the new model is not destined for America, Kia gives us a look at the stylish V-6–powered four-door with a familiar face.
- The Kia K8 is teased in new photos that show the front, side, and rear of the upcoming sedan.
- The K8 replaces the Kia Cadenza, which was last sold in the U.S. in 2020.
- While the K8 isn’t destined for America, we are still fans of new sedans.
UPDATE 8/9/24: Kia has revealed the K8 for the Korean market, and these photos show the sedan’s fresh new look. The EV9-esque headlights dominate the front end, while the taillights look similar to those on the recently updated K5 and new K4 sedans that we get in the U.S. The interior looks to feature plush materials, large dashboard-spanning screens, ambient lighting, and a rotary shift knob. Kia also revealed that the K8 will continue to be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine making 296 horsepower.
Kia’s transformation has been drastic. Once a purveyor of affordable, albeit bare-bones, transportation, the Korean automaker now proffers a lineup of well-appointed and sleek-looking models such as the popular Telluride mid-size SUV and the Carnival minivan, which is even offered with princely VIP rear lounge seats.
Still, not every upmarket move from Kia has panned out in the United States. One misstep was the full-size Cadenza sedan, last sold on our shores in 2020. However, the model lives on in South Korea as the K8. Today, a new round of teaser photos were released that show how the refreshed sedan looks like it’s going to be a stunner.
While the lower bumpers are obscured by shadows, the teaser images show off most of the K8’s new design, which looks to draw heavily upon Kia’s electric vehicles. Called “Opposites United,” Kia’s latest design language has proliferated from its EVs to gas-powered vehicles like the refreshed Carnival and new K4 this year.
The new K8’s thin vertical headlights looks like they were taken straight off the electric EV9 SUV. They are linked by a thin trim piece that’s adorned with a series of small illuminated hash marks. The taillights also span the entire width of the car, with a thin horizontal element ending in two vertical LEDs. The profile image shows off a slippery sloping roofline.
While we don’t expect the new Kia K8 to make it to America, we’re always fans of sedans. So it’s fun to keep an eye on what’s going to be available in other markets, especially when it’s the newest version of a car that was once sold on our shores.
