Kia has revealed the first official photographs of its new sedan to be launched during the first half of this year in the Korean market. Referred to by its codename ‘KH’ until now, the company also confirmed that the Korean market name will be ‘K9’ – while the name for export markets, as well as overseas launch timings, will be revealed later this year.

The model’s Korean market name, K9, will complete Kia’s domestic market ‘K’ series range of passenger cars, whose members also include the front-wheel drive K5 (Optima in overseas markets including Europe) and K7 (Cadenza in overseas markets – not available in Europe) sedans.

Mr Soon-Nam Lee, director of the overseas marketing group, said, “K9 is our first rear-wheel drive sedan, created without compromise in its design, driving performance and new technologies. K9 sets a whole new level of standards and values in the large sedan segment, and its design will be another Kia demonstration of our brand’s power to surprise.”