Kia has officially refreshed its K8 lineup that came to replace the K7/Cadenza in 2021. Sales on the domestic market will start before the end of the summer.
Starting at the front end, it now looks almost rectangular thanks to a new bar overlapping the radiator grille and a redesigned bumper framed by vertical headlights. The hood is sculpted like before, but still looks different and carries the Kia badge now instead of the bumper. The lack of fake exhaust pipes is probably the biggest change at the rear end.
A peek inside the car reveals a new four-spoke steering wheel and a downsized climate control panel. The two displays on the dash are still merged in a single rectangle (the pre-facelift design was trapezoid). The transmission tunnel also looks refreshed with wireless chargers and an optimized physical button layout. Last but not least, the ambient lighting has received a handful of extra modes.
In Korea, the sedan will be offered with a 2.5-liter petrol engine rated at 198 PS (195 hp / 146 kW) and its 3.5-liter counterpart capable of 300 PS (296 hp / 221 kW). There will also be a 1.6-liter four-pot hybrid option with 230 PS (227 hp / 169 kW). Those getting the 3.5-liter engine will be able to opt for a bi-fuel version of it dialed down to 240 PS (237 hp / 177 kW). The 3.5-liter engine is also the only one that supports optional AWD.
Prices start from 37.36 million KRW.