2019 Kia K900 [spy Shot]
Prior to its global premiere later this year, the new 2019 Kia K900 has been spied testing by Carscoops reader Abdullah in Dubai. The prototype in question wears a layer of black and white camouflage, shielding most of its design. Among the visible tweaks between the new car and the outgoing model are LED daytime running lights in the headlights, a revised front grille, and new lower air intakes. At the rear, Kia designers have created a pair of taillights which, from some angles, look very similar in shape to those from the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. While only moderate modifications will be made to the cabin, the interior is expected to be a dramatic departure from the current car. For example, it is reported that the South Korean automaker will offer a Lexicon audio system as standard. Additionally, plush materials and wooden surfaces will be found within. In terms of engines, we hear the new K900 will get the 3.3-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8 from Genesis, delivering 365 hp and 420 hp respectively. Both of these engines will be mated exclusively to a 10-speed automatic gearbox powering the rear wheels. All-wheel drive will be an option.
The cabin is predominantly made up of digital screens and previews a new look for Audi鈥檚 future cabins; the gear selector has morphed into a domino-shaped slider that sits neatly integrated on the centre console. It shares its platform, called J1, with Porsche鈥檚 upcoming electric vehicle, the Taycan. Both are similar sized, elegant saloons, but the Audi will be aimed at a very different customer. 鈥淥ur customers don鈥檛 like what Porsche does and Porsche customers don鈥檛 like what we do,鈥?Andreas Mindt, explains to us. The numbers certainly back up that claim: 582bhp, 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 149mph. A huge 96kWh battery that drives an electric motor on each axle delivering four-wheel drive powers the e-tron GT. Having said that it presents us with an ideal setting to test the e-tron鈥檚 promise of greater comfort and refinement. The steering is effortlessly smooth with a nice heft to its weight; the throttle response is consistent and, when the traffic opens up, delivers thumping bursts of acceleration. Audi engineers are still working on refining the overall powertrain to deliver smoother and a more relaxing drive. The chassis is still being worked on, which is a relief, because the ride quality, like all precious one-off concept cars is pretty bad. It鈥檚 about as comfortable as doing a marathon in a pair of ski boots two sizes too small. Any sort of verdict on handling, given our location, will have to wait until the production model has rolled out of the factory, too.
Porsche is, without any doubt, one of the most unique major automakers in the world. Their combination of luxury and performance is unparalleled in the automotive industry, and beyond that, most of their models are now utilitarian as well. As utilitarian as rather pricey high-performance vehicles can really be, that is. The driving force behind Porsche鈥檚 success is undoubtedly their crossover siblings Cayenne and Macan. Together, they amount to 34,632 total U.S. 2017, which is just north of 60 percent of Porsche鈥檚 total U.S. All other Porsche models exhibit a four-digit sales figure which also speaks volumes about the crossover segment鈥檚 importance for the luxury German brand. MY 2019 is bringing a much-expected update to the beloved Porsche 911 whose sales might surpass 10,000 total after the makeover. Moreover, the Germans are knee-deep in the electrification of their lineup, and the upcoming Mission E all-electric sports car lineup is sure to garner some well-deserved interest.
The question is, will it arrive in time for MY 2019, or will it be offered as part of the MY 2020 lineup? Related reads: 2020 Audi, 2020 BMW, and 2019 Mercedes-Benz lineups. After their mid-size luxury crossover鈥檚 sales started declining during 2017, the Germans quickly came out with a makeover plan. For comparison, Porsche marketed around 18,500 Cayennes in the U.S. 5,000 higher than those of their outdated siblings. As it鈥檚 usually the case with the German automaker鈥檚 design division, they yet again failed to deliver a ground-breaking design, hence the old and new Cayenne look a lot alike. When it comes to Porsche, however, that鈥檚 a good thing. In order to justify the not so insignificant price hike though, they had to implement a lot of new technology. The platform is all-new, which renders the forthcoming model slightly lighter. Then there鈥檚 the new infotainment system and staggered-size wheels and tires for the very first time. Finally, the Germans have also updated the powertrain department. Speaking of which, the 2019 Cayenne offers a trio of powerful engines.
The base engine is a turbocharged 3.0L V6 with 340 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, which is an upgrade of 40 ponies over the outgoing model. Alongside the new Cayenne, Porsche is also updating its younger sibling. Unlike the full makeover, as was the case with Cayenne (as full as a makeover gets at Porsche), the 2019 Macan will be only slightly revised. A mid-cycle refresh should make sure that the Macan鈥檚 healthy sales surge remains on course. The Germans have managed to sell 21,429 Macans in the U.S. 2017 which, as mentioned before, makes the compact luxury crossover their best-selling vehicle. The mentioned revisions include a slightly revised front bumper, new headlights and tail-lights, a revised rear diffuser, and barely noticeable changes to the interior. Judging by the state of spied Macan test mules, that鈥檒l pretty much be it. Powertrain changes are where the picture gets blurry. Diesel and hybrid options shouldn鈥檛 be excluded but they look highly unlikely at this point - especially the former.