Kia unveils K4 sedan concept in China

Mon, 21 Apr 2014

Among the dozens of foreign automakers eager to showcase their wares to the Chinese market, Kia arrived at the Beijing Motor Show with the new K4. Though technically categorized as a "concept," the K4 previews a sedan which Kia intends to launch in China later this year.

The K4 is a midsize sedan measuring 186 inches long and riding on a 106-inch wheelbase that makes it bigger than the Forte (sold in the Far East as the K3) and just a few inches shorter than the Optima (aka K5). The form is draped in familiar Kia-style bodywork, with a high trunk and low nose to give it a wedge shape and a familiar if somewhat new take on the headlights and grille seen on other new models from the Korean automaker.

Power comes from a 1.6-liter turbo four (smaller than the engines available in the Optima/K5) mated to a seven-speed DCT. Kia has also fitted the K4 concept with push-button ignition, UVO infotainment system, rear-view camera, six airbags and stability management. In short, everything you'd expect from the latest product of a global automaker.

Unfortunately Kia hasn't released much more information than that (or more than two photos, for that matter), but the K4 isn't a product destined for our shores anyway.

Kia Introduces New K4 Concept at Beijing Auto Show

20-Apr-2014

Kia Motors Corporation celebrates the world premiere of its latest concept car, the all-new K4 sedan, today (Sunday) at the 2014 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

Developed especially with Chinese consumers in mind, the mid-sized K4 sedan concept displays a simple, distinctive and dignified exterior design – with a low nose, wedge-shaped profile and high trunk – and class-leading interior space equipped with numerous high-tech convenience and safety features.

The 4.72 meter long K4 concept promises to deliver a thrilling drive, with strong performance guaranteed by Kia's 1.6-liter Turbo GDI engine (making its first appearance in the Chinese market), combined with a 7-speed DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission), which ensures effortless, fast and smooth gear shifts.

Outstanding interior space for the K4's driver and passengers is the result of skilfull packaging and its unusually long wheelbase for a mid-size car (2,700 mm). Class-leading spaciousness is supported by a range of class-leading convenience features which include a push button engine start system, Supervision instrument cluster and Kia's UVO infotainment system.

In terms of safety equipment, the K4 features six airbags, ESP (electronic stability program) and a rear-view camera. Kia engineers have designed the structure of the K4, together with its active and passive safety systems, to achieve a 5-star rating when subjected to C-NCAP tests.

Kia has a tradition of exhibiting concept cars which are closely related to future volume models and the production K4 sedan is expected to go on sale in China during the second half of 2014. The latest Kia model will appeal to family-oriented consumers aged in their 30s and 40s.

"From its earliest development stage, the K4 concept was designed specifically to satisfy Chinese consumers' needs and preferences. Now, we are confident that the production version of the mid-size K4 family sedan will set a whole new standard for its class in China when it is launched later this year," commented Soon-Nam Lee, Vice President of Kia Motors Corporation's Overseas Marketing Group.

By Noah Joseph