Expected to retain the K4 nameplate, the 186-inch long sedan is being designed exclusively for the Chinese market. The spy shots indicate the car is nearly identical to the concept that bowed in Beijing but it features a more realistic radiator grille, a less aggressive bumper and smaller wheels.
Borrowing a page from the Mercedes-Benz playbook, Kia will ask K4 buyers whether they want a sporty-looking grille with mesh inserts or a more elegant unit with horizontal slats.
The K4 will boast a well-appointed cockpit available with a wide array of electronic equipment including a rear-view camera, the latest generation of Kia’s UVO infotainment system and a push-button ignition.
Power for the K4 will likely come from a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that spins the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Other engine options will include a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter four-banger rated at 146 horsepower and 129 lb-ft. of torque and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 162 horsepower and 143 lb-ft. of torque. The 2.0-liter unit will reportedly be offered with a six-speed manual transmission.
Sources indicate the K4 will start at 140,000 yuan (approximately $22,500) and top out at 180,000 yuan (roughly $29,000). At the time of writing Kia is not planning on selling the sedan outside of China.
Look for full details about the Kia K4 to emerge next fall.
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