Kia K900

[PMCErnie]

All things considered, it will be fun to compare/test drive Kia's new flagship. This beast will offer a configurable dash cluster too.

http://m.seattlepi.com/technology/b...view-Of-Kia-s-New-Luxury-Sedan-Is-4686752.php

http://m.cnet.com/reviews/2015-kia-k900-lux-sedan/35831778

http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/kia_k900_2015

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2015-kia-k900-sedan-photos-and-info-news

http://youtu.be/WFXlAt5-hTk

http://youtu.be/YIi4Ddp8Lnk

http://youtu.be/HoKvw6mk-NM

 

[sandy]

Thanks for gathering the reviews. It should be an interesting introduction. I anticipate some great deals on the K900 because I don't believe the market can swallow another "non-status" luxury car.

 

[PMCErnie]

My pleasure. There is lots more stuff out there. The K900 is sure to have appeal to a portion of Genesis and Equus buyers. I would never buy a V8 Genesis, or Equus, so the availability of a great V6 in a cousin vehicle might be very attractive. Kia will need to invent the equivalent of our wing logo to hide the Kia badge and boost the pseudo snoot appeal.

 

[sandy]

Interesting article on Hyundai/kia relationship from today's Wall St. Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/kia-struggles-as-sibling-hyundai-speeds-ahead-1409208932?KEYWORDS=kia

 

[PMCErnie]

Thanks, Sandy. Quite informative. What parent would set up competing lemonade stands for his/her two children?

 

[Mark_888]

Thanks, Sandy. Quite informative. What parent would set up competing lemonade stands for his/her two children?

The article clearly says that Hyundai Motor Group only owns 34% of Kia.

 

[sandy]

Thanks, Sandy. Quite informative. What parent would set up competing lemonade stands for his/her two children?

It's been a while, but back in Sparta, they believed in survival of the fittest for the children.

Nowadays, some marketers believe it is better to lose a sale to a partner/subsidiary than a competitor.....

 

[Mark_888]

It's been a while, but back in Sparta, they believed in survival of the fittest for the children.

Nowadays, some marketers believe it is better to lose a sale to a partner/subsidiary than a competitor.....

Korea is one of the few free-market developed countries that would allow such clear monopolistic relationships (since together they control a huger percent of the Korean auto market).

 

[PMCErnie]

The article clearly says that Hyundai Motor Group only owns 34% of Kia.

And your point is what? That Hyundai has little involvement? Not so. I mentioned in another thread that Hyundai and Kia have a combined headshed process for product launches. I didn't dream it up. See the link below:

http://www.genesisowners.com/hyunda...ead.php?t=13855&highlight=Hyundai+motor+group

Kia's parent company is Hyundai Motor Group. Are you aware of any other parent company?

My new '14 Santa Fe Sport was built on a Kia assembly line in a Kia factory in West Point, Georgia. So far it seems to be built pretty well.

Getting back to my point, if the K900 doesn't do well it will most likely be due to competition from Genesis and Equus. They are more likely to eat it lunch than any other brands.

 

[PMCErnie]

It's been a while, but back in Sparta, they believed in survival of the fittest for the children.

Nowadays, some marketers believe it is better to lose a sale to a partner/subsidiary than a competitor.....

Nowadays? What has changed from the past?

Or, do you mean like Ford/Mercury, or Chevy/Pontiac?

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[Mark_888]

And your point is what? That Hyundai has little involvement? Not so. I mentioned in another thread that Hyundai and Kia have a combined headshed process for product launches. I didn't dream it up. See the link below:

http://www.genesisowners.com/hyunda...ead.php?t=13855&highlight=Hyundai+motor+group

Kia's parent company is Hyundai Motor Group. Are you aware of any other parent company?

My new '14 Santa Fe was built on a Kia assembly line in a Kia factory in West Point, Georgia. So far it seems to be built pretty well.

Getting back to my point, if the K900 doesn't do well it will most likely be due to competition from Genesis and Equus.

I didn't say they have little involvement, I said they are different companies and compete against each other.

At one point Hyundai Motor Group had a majority interest in Kia, but has reduced that to about 34% since then. Obviously, they still have a big interest in the company, but what is your point? Toyota and GM built the same cars (with different names on them) in a plant in Freemont CA years ago. Auto companies that compete against each other are increasing sharing technology, manufacturing facilities, etc.

Now I will admit that the relationship between Hyundai and Kia is strange, since it would not be allowed if they controlled such a large share of the auto market in the US as they do in Korea. But they obviously do compete against each other, which is my point.

 

[sandy]

Nowadays? What has changed from the past?

Or, do you mean like Ford/Mercury, or Chevy/Pontiac?[/QUOT

My bad writing...the nowadays reference was just to contrast with Spartan days...the marketing strategy is nothing new.

 

[FastDEW1]

....... Toyota and GM built the same cars (with different names on them) in a plant in Freemont CA years ago. ......

A little thread jacking here - But The Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe of which you refer to - They were the same car. Consumer Reports showed the Matrix as above average predicted reliability and the Vibe as below average predicted reliability. This is when I stopped reading Consumer Reports..

Ok - Back to topic now.