[supra93]

https://www.carscoops.com/2021/02/so...-k8-stateside/

Kia finally previewed the new K8 full-size sedan this week, but for prospective American customers, we’ve got some bad news: it’s not coming to the U.S.

That’s according to a Kia spokesperson, who told CarScoops that Kia Motors America currently has no plans to offer the K8. There is a glimmer of hope, as he added that the brand is constantly reassessing. For now, though, it’s a no go.

The K8 is designed to replace the K7 or, as it’s known in the US, the Cadenza. Kia said last month that it was discontinuing the Cadenza for the U.S. market; citing slow sedan sales, the automaker stated that it was focusing on crossovers.

Kia has yet to fully unveil the K8, having only released pictures of the exterior. Information about the interior, the drivetrain, and the technology have not yet been shared officially, though the company did explain its vision for the design.

“This modern sedan has been designed with innovation and elegance at its very core,” said Karim Habib, senior vice president and head of Kia Global Design Center on Tuesday. “While paying homage to the K7, the K8 looks to the future. Its progressive exterior takes on character and emotion, and combines those qualities with an expressive looking front and a dynamic swooping rear, giving the K8 a high-quality, premium presence that takes direct inspiration from some of the world’s most technically advanced yachts.”

The new K8 is also the first vehicle we have seen with the new Kia logo that was unveiled earlier this year. The car is set to launch in South Korea later this year and Kia has yet to specify which other markets might get it.