Launched last year for the world market, the full-size flagship KIA Quoris is expected to make its way to US shores by early next year. However, it’s slated to do so with a bang: American buyers will first see the Quoris in a series of Super Bowl ads in February. Not a bad way to get publicity.
Based on the Equus of sister company Hyundai, the Quoris is specifically aimed at being a 7-series/S-class/A8 competitor for tens of thousands less. Reports indicate that the Quoris will fit somewhere in the $50,000-$70,000 price range, though it’s likely to see the top end of that figure based on the current Equus’ pricing. KIA executives predict that the Quoris will deliver “7-series value with 5-series pricing,” an accurate claim considering the car’s host of impressive luxury features.
The current KIA Quoris in other markets comes standard with: full LED headlamps, an 8-speed automatic transmission, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system allowing for bird’s eye views, a 9.2-inch infotainment system, and an advanced Lexicon speaker system. And the car can be had with a 3.8-liter V6 that churns out around 333 horsepower at 6,200 RPM. For the US market, however, a more powerful, 5.0-liter V8 may also be available.
Options on the Quoris are just as impressive. Rear-seat passengers can be treated to dual 9.2-inch monitors on the backs of the front seats, fully heated and ventilated seats, a rear sunshade, and “air cell” lumbar support seats, allowing rear-seat passengers to tailor their back support exactly to their preferences. However, the goodies aren’t reserved just for passengers: the driver’s seat can be equipped with a 14-way power adjustable control panel, while the driver receives vital vehicle information from an integrated heads-up display. All this considered, the Quoris seems like a steal, as any comparably-equipped German saloon would retail for well over $100,000.
Though it’s unclear exactly when the Quoris will hit US KIA showrooms, it seems likely that the car will launch within a few weeks of its Super Bowl debut. Dealers have been informed that the first Quorises (or Quorii?) will go to the West Coast, with Florida and New England receiving the model soon afterward. Until then, however, stay tuned for this November’s 2013 LA Auto Show, where KIA is set to officially announce the US-spec Quoris.
Please leave us a comment below. Do you think the KIA Quoris can be successful in the United States?
Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video of the KIA Cadenza, a similar luxury sedan in the Korean automaker’s lineup.