2015 Kia K900 Named 'International Car of the Year'

kia k900 (select to view enlarged photo)

K900 Recognized for Distinctive Design, Advanced Technology and Unmatched Luxury

-- 2015 K900 luxury sedan earns top honors from Road & Travel Magazine International Car of the Year (ICOTY) jury

-- Kia claims unprecedented third consecutive ICOTY victory with new flagship sedan

LOS ANGELES -- Nov. 20, 2014: In conjunction with the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, Road & Travel Magazine (RTM) has named the 2015 Kia K900 as its International Car of the Year. The K900's stunning design combined with luxurious amenities, impressive performance and great value propelled the Kia brand to an unprecedented third consecutive win of the prestigious ICOTY award. The ICOTY jurors honored Kia's Cadenza premium sedan last year and the best-selling Optima midsize sedan in 2012.

"Since arriving in the U.S. market 20 years ago, Kia has repeatedly defied conventional industry thinking, and the K900 is our boldest move yet, making a significant leap forward for the brand and bringing new and affluent customers into our retail showrooms," said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing & communications, KMA. "To win the prestigious ICOTY award three years running is a clear indication that our products consistently offer a world-class balance of design, amenities, luxury and value for today's discerning car buyers."

This year marks a new format for RTM's annual "Of the Year" award. Previously, one award for car of the year and one for truck of the year were announced. Beginning in 2014, RTM is honoring a single annual winner, adding greater significance to the K900's victory amidst some very tough competition from Hyundai, BMW and Mazda. In addition to product attributes such as style, comfort and performance, the award also considers how well the brand connects emotionally with the consumer through its marketing efforts. The winner is chosen by the ICOTY jury, which consists of nationally renowned automotive journalists from respected publications such as Consumer Guide� Automotive, MSN Autos, New Car News Syndicate and RTM.

"Three years in a row for the same brand is a first for RTM, and it says a lot about Kia's growth and its continuous introductions of exceptional new vehicles," said Courtney Caldwell, editor-in-chief of Road & Travel Magazine. "Not only is the car a beautiful piece of art inside and out, but Kia's advertising agencies did a remarkable job of getting it into the hearts and minds of luxury sedan shoppers before it even hit the road. Overall, the car is stunning and affordable, making upscale style and performance attainable to mid-America. We applaud Kia's rapid rise from underdog to unbelievable!"

KMA has earned a reputation for its unique and disruptive approach to marketing its line of award-winning vehicles, and the K900 continues that tradition through its recent announcement as the Official Luxury Vehicle of the NBA. Just two weeks prior, KMA announced 10-time NBA All-Star LeBron James had assumed the newly created role as the K900 Luxury Ambassador. When the K900 launched earlier this year, Laurence Fishburne returned to the iconic role of Morpheus from The Matrix™1 trilogy in a multiplatform marketing campaign to introduce Kia's first V8-powered rear-drive luxury sedan.

About the K900

The 2015 K900 challenges the rear-drive luxury sedan segment with an extensive list of standard equipment, world-class accommodations, premium driving dynamics and stunning design that redefines consumer perception and expectations of the Kia brand. Offered with a 420-hp V8 engine, the K900's list of standard equipment and upscale amenities features first-class accommodations and advanced technology. The range-topping V8 equipped with the VIP Package adds additional luxury amenities including reclining outboard rear seats. The K900 V8 Luxury and V8 VIP are on sale now2.