K900 and Cadenza are being axed .........................

[westcoastGT]

Kia K900 and Cadenza Are Dead for 2021

We're not surprised to see these slow-selling sedans go away given the existence of Hyundai's Genesis luxury brand and the market's insatiable demand for SUVs.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[Kamauxx]

I'm not surprised by this except that it came so late.

I'm curious what Kia's divestment in sedans will mean for the Stinger. Their remaining sedans all sell more than the Stinger--doubling the Stinger's sales at a minimum. The Stinger's 2020 sales were 10% lower than 2019, as well. This can partly be blamed on Covid-19, I'm sure, but overall Kia's sales were down just 5%.

I also wonder what this means for the future of Kia luxury vehicles. They used the Cadenza and K900 to demonstrate how Kia does luxury. Will they shift their luxury focus to the K5, build a new lux model, or abandon the luxury-sedan segment altogether?

 

[RedCal]

I think Kia / Hyundai / Genesis needs a big picture brand strategy (and stay on brand!)
Where Kia is the Sporty "fun" cars (think Soul & Stinger, "N" branding goes here)
Hyundai is the more practical mainstream brand (head to head with Honda, etc)
and Genesis is the Luxury offerings of the two (just not in every model)

Other brands have done this but with way too much duplication (like GM, and Ford did)

 

[MerlintheMad]

"The Cadenza contributed a paltry 1265 sales for Kia in 2020 and the K900 recorded just 305 sales. For reference, the next lowest-volume model in the Kia lineup in 2020 was the Stinger hatchback, which sold 12,556 units."

Wow, that's an amazing sales volume difference. I think that the Stinger is safe for a while.

 

[Chark]

You can buy used 2019 K900's with low miles for between $32 and $35K. That's a bargain!

 

[westcoastGT]

I think Kia is trying to execute a transcending strategy , not defining themselves as lux or value just strongly emotionally aspirational......................ie reinventing themselves as an alternative to several buyer segments . segmenting by tiering is very linear and overdone , They are trying something new and I think it's bold and exciting .............

Kia teases several of its upcoming electric vehicles

It plans to release seven EVs by 2027.

ca.movies.yahoo.com

 

[stoopid]

I'm not surprised by this except that it came so late.

Ditto.

They likely should start divvying up the models between their brands as someone previously posted. Genesis has a solid handle on the luxury end, these models from Kia were redundant.

 

[CeramicGT001]

"The Cadenza contributed a paltry 1265 sales for Kia in 2020 and the K900 recorded just 305 sales. For reference, the next lowest-volume model in the Kia lineup in 2020 was the Stinger hatchback, which sold 12,556 units."

Wow, that's an amazing sales volume difference. I think that the Stinger is safe for a while.

Another good sign is that in 2020 (US) the Stinger (12556) outsold the G70 (9436). Pat on the back for us

 

[westcoastGT]

I think the Stinger as we know it (love it ) is done , they will do an E version that will go after E sports car ...... think Taycan alternative ...................just my 2 cents

 

[stoopid]

I think the Stinger as we know it (love it ) is done , they will do an E version that will go after E sports car ...... think Taycan alternative ...................just my 2 cents

The other way to look at it.... the Stinger is now their top tier model, true halo for the brand. Prior to axing the K900 and Cadenza, you could argue they occupied some of that space for Kia. The sales numbers aren't great but are good enough to keep the vehicle around, for now. Especially considering it's the best they offer under that badge.

 

[YEH]

Actually sold a good bit less well than the previous gen despite the addition of AWD (likely a combination of its insipid sheets and the continuing movement to pickups, SUVs and CUVs).

The Cadenza/K7 is dead the world over as it will be replaced by the K8.

Would not be surprised if the K900 gets replaced by an SUV or CUV for this market; and even in Korea where the K9 does pretty well, can see it being replaced by a flagship electric sedan (in Korea, the K9 far outsells the Stinger).

 

[westcoastGT]

The other way to look at it.... the Stinger is now their top tier model, true halo for the brand. Prior to axing the K900 and Cadenza, you could argue they occupied some of that space for Kia. The sales numbers aren't great but are good enough to keep the vehicle around, for now. Especially considering it's the best they offer under that badge.

I think the Telluride is on the top of the pile not Stinger

 

[MerlintheMad]

I think the Telluride is on the top of the pile not Stinger

But it isn't the "best" under the Kia badge; the Stinger is.

 

[westcoastGT]

But it isn't the "best" under the Kia badge; the Stinger is.

actually the new Sorento has far more tech and lux features than both the Stinger and Telly

 

[MerlintheMad]

actually the new Sorento has far more tech and lux features than both the Stinger and Telly

"Best", as in most practical, attractive and FUN. The Stinger was a surprise; higher tech and luxury are not, those are expected. The longer the Stinger remains, the more surprised people there are: surprised in a good way, because Kia's reputation is changed and enhanced. The Sorento is just another mainstream car.

 

[stoopid]

I think the Telluride is on the top of the pile not Stinger

I wasn't considering their SUVs because they're good vehicles, but boring.

 

[westcoastGT]

"Best", as in most practical, attractive and FUN. The Stinger was a surprise; higher tech and luxury are not, those are expected. The longer the Stinger remains, the more surprised people there are: surprised in a good way, because Kia's reputation is changed and enhanced. The Sorento is just another mainstream car.

Hell, the K5 will probably impress more people than the Stinger just based on the numbers , and given the massive success of the Telly , it alone has brought more buyers to showrooms than the Stinger ever will ....................

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hell, the K5 will probably impress more people than the Stinger just based on the numbers , and given the massive success of the Telly , it alone has brought more buyers to showrooms than the Stinger ever will ....................

Just arguing sales volume, I will never win a debate on "best Kia model".

 

[westcoastGT]

Just arguing sales volume, I will never win a debate on "best Kia model".

Fanboy !!!!

 

[stoopid]

Think we're losing sight of what a "halo" car is:

Essential Auto 101: What Is a Halo Car | AutoNation Drive


This site even lists the Stinger (and K900) as Kia's halos:

Autotrader

Case in point: Its corporate cousin Kia has not one, but two halo cars in the forms of the sporty Stinger and the weirdly luxurious K900. How cool would it be to have a Hyundai version of the Stinger?