Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

  1. KIA won't sell boatloads of the K900 in the US. But that's not especially important. It sells extremely well in its Korean home market and other nations in Asia where its K9 moniker doesn't prompt jokes about canines. And in the luxury segment where most vehicles are leased for three years or so, the K900 value pricing for a long term purchase is less important, especially for badge whores and others who judge the quality of a vehicle by the comments of their friends at the local country club. Nevertheless, the K900 is a valuable asset for KIA in the US. It's a halo model sitting in dealer showrooms that shows off the quality and appeal of the brand when shoppers actually shop for less expensive vehicles. Like owning the least expensive house in an upscale neighborhood it improves customers' feelings about their purchases. Furthermore, Hyundai/KIA have shown a genius for sharing components, engineering, and design while appealing to slightly different market segments. Feel a little queasy about buying a luxury car from KIA or Hyundai? No problem. There's that Genesis brand available that betrays almost nothing about its Korean heritage. And whether it's a Stinger, a K900 or one of several Genesis models, they're vehicles at least as Germanic as their rivals in almost every Important respect. The K900 isn't the car for me and my family, as appealing as it is. My backseat is usually reserved for my teenage daughter who requires nothing more than USB charging capabilities and a large dog who is happy in any vehicle as long as he gets to go. But for those feel a car should reflect less about one's economic status and more about one's sense of actual value, it's a winner.
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  2. Take it to your local detailing/body shop and have the badge removed. Problem solved.
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  3. Shared components including engines and transmissions contains costs. KIA and Hyundai do a very good job on that score.
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  4.  @Starr-n5m  And in Korea, the K900 is the K9. Woof, woof. Be careful what you wish for. ;)
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  5. "...a simplicity that's almost scandinavian..." Very well put.
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  6. Riiight...Would be fun to be a fly on the wall in a board meeting of the Hyundai/KIA conglomerate to hear the pitch. "OK guys, we're risking millions and millions in a long term and risky investment for a luxury Genesis brand. Let's do the same for KIA. Similarly risky and unlikely to pay off for years, if ever. But if it does, what can we expect? Cannibalizing sales of Genesis models." Sounds like a truly GREAT idea.
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  7. Well, at least they added "00" to the K9 designation for the model in Korea. :)
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  8. @Skylar Wolfie And much the same can be said of the KIA Forte. Appealing looks, most room in its class, and 40 highway MPG's.
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  9. That is a new name. In Asia it's known as the K9. Kia wisely decided they didn't want to hear jokes about dogs.
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  10. KIa has a Stinger calling your name.
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  11. It's not an "identity crisis." It's intelligent marketing. Genesis is, indeed, the Hyundai/Kia luxury brand but the K900 (which is selling extremely well in Korea and other non-US markets) serves a different purpose. It's a "halo" model meant to draw customers into showrooms and boost the image of the brand with customers who purchase less expensive models. It's much the same psychology as the impact of the first stages of gentrification in a neighborhood of less expensive homes. A larger, more expensive home improves the image of its neighbors, boosts their perceived value, and encourages additional investment. That's why real estate experts recommend purchasing the least expensive home in a neighborhood with more expensive houses; the value is likely to go up.
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  12.  @ELPJM09  Try re-reading my comment. Although the K900 (under various names) sells quite well in non-US markets and has cut significantly into the sales of traditional luxury brands (e.g. Mercedes) in Korea, the value of the K900 in the US is not measured in terms of its sales. It's a "halo" model that encourages dealership traffic and increases the overall sales of other KIA models.
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  13.  @ELPJM09  Every auto company follows design trends and is inspired by earlier designs. Your comment is nothing more than xenophobic bull***t.
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  14.  @ELPJM09 Your own comment provided the proof. Perhaps you should look up "xenophobic."
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  15. Not mine.
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  16. I think you answered your own question. Hyundai has Genesis; Kia doesn't have to. A separate luxury brand requires a huge long term investment with highly uncertain results. Hyundai/KIA has done an awesome job of designing/engineering vehicles that appeal to separate sub-segments of the market with shared components (G70 and Stinger; Sorento and Santa Fe; Telluride and Palisade.) Luxury vehicles are a different ballgame with much smaller markets to divide.
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