New 2022 Kia K9 facelift makes Range Rovers’ AI look like child’s play

The second-generation Kia K9 will finally be receiving some serious updates since it was launched back in 2018. The new car will come with Fingerprint Authentication, Over the Air system upgrades, and a load of new safety tech including the ability to park itself.

This facelift exercise seems like an exercise for Kia to shoehorn tons of tech and safety upgrades under the metal. But that is not to say that there aren’t any exterior changes at all.

The new K9 sports a larger radiator grille with a new V-shape design to enhance its majestic presence while slimmer and longer headlights set horizontally complement the younger more stylish look.

Also read: This left-hand drive Kia K9 is probably the only one in Malaysia

The bumper has been redesigned to make sure it doesn’t compete for attention with the new larger grille. The K9 also gets new 19-inch wheel design to match the stylish changes on the exterior.

Meanwhile, the tail lights have been redesigned to follow the new trendy connected light design that is all the rage with car designers recently.

Kia engineers have added dynamic welcome light function which will turn on the head and tail lights the moment the door is unlocked.

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Inside, new wood accent options have been added while the leather upholstery gets a new weave design. The most dominant difference in the interior is the new 14.5-inch infotainment display to complement the host of new tech that Kia has introduced to the K9.

New on the infotainment is what we understand to be wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system, along with the digital instrument cluster, can now be updated via over the air (OTA). This is the first introduction of OTA updatable system in Korean cars.

Other than that, the infotainment now has a handwriting recognition function to reduce the need of tapping to input the relevant information. Kia has also added 360-degree surround view monitor in case the driver needs to squeeze through one of Korea’s tight winding streets.

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But the headlining new technology in the K9 is the Fingerprint Authentication system. With a scan of the finger, the K9 will adjust all systems from the air-conditioning settings, side mirrors adjustments, and seating position according to the driver’s personalised profile.

While this isn’t a new technology, cars like the Range Rover Evoque and Jaguar I-Pace already have such systems, but both cars do not come with fingerprint authentication system. One point for the K9!

Kia has also updated the safety system in the new K9, not only does it debut a new parking assistance system that allows the car to park itself, but it also has an advanced adaptive cruise control system that allows the driver to change lanes with a flick of the signal stalk.

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Other than that, Kia is also waxing lyrical about the world’s first Predictive Gearshift System (PGS) that predicts acceleration and deceleration using the car’s navigation, radar, and camera signals. The system will then shift to the optimal gear the system believes is best for the situation.

Sounds like ACC? It’s a new system so TBA on how the system works until the car is launched.

The Kia K9 is now open for pre-booking in Korea with only 2 engine options, the 3.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine and the 3.8-litre petrol engine. From what we understand, Kia has dropped the 5.0-litre V8 engine from the lineup.

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There is only one Kia K9 currently wandering around on Malaysian roads, we believe that the left-hand-drive second generation K9 is part of Kia Motors Asia Pacific’s Malaysian company car fleet. What are the odds that Kia Motors would swap the current K9 for this newer and sleeker facelift?