Despite a 2.5% down turn in global auto sales last month, Kia is maintaining their impressive pace. Year to date, Kia is up 22.7 percent and improved 24.4 percent over last April. The Kia Optima, whose racing siblings are tearing up the Pirelli World Challenge Championships, has doubled in sales , from just over 22,000 to 46,400 YTD. Given the Optima is one of the most powerful, fuel efficient and full featured car in its class ,this is not a big surprise. Being pleasing to the eye only adds to its allure.

Another top seller in Kia’s all-star fleet is the Sorento. The CUV sold well in April despite being at the end of its model-year.  The 2012 Sorento is available with either an line 4 or a V6 and is the roomiest choice in its class. The Sorento’s features and styling have impressed critics and consumers alike.

The 40MPG 2012 Kia Rio has also double its year to date sales and only just missed doubling last April’s. This model has also seen the release of its 2013 version.

We at Keffer know what all of the fuss is about. It is no coincidence that Kia is one of fastest growing companies. They focus on design, performance, safety and versatility. This has built the most loyal customer bases in the industry. Kia autos do not value one of their strengths  above the other, instead they achieve high marks in every single category.

Though it will not be called the K9 when its sold in the U.S., the newest edition to Kia‘s line-up is sure to impress. Hopefully it will be marketed like it is in Korea, as purchasers will have a Galaxy 10.1 Tablet thrown in for free. Not that you’ll need incentives to have your foot itch for the K9′s gas pedal. This rear-wheel drive luxury sedan will sport either a 3.3L 300HP DOHC Lambda V6 or its 3.8L tuned twin that will give you a very nice 344HP. It is speculated that the 344HP version, and possibly a V8, might also find their way into other Kias after debuting in the K9.

It will come with deluxe safety features such as smart cruise control, lane departure warnings, and four cameras to assist your maneuverings. The radio will play over 17 speakers, but don’t worry, you’re not going to need another battery and amp to run them. A flex-steer system is going to let you choose from different settings and the car will adjust its various components, such as suspension, to fit your chosen mode. The full color heads-up-display will keep your eyes fixed to the road.

Kia has also included remote start and climate control which can be accessed with your smart-phone.

Expect more details to come as we get closer to the U.S. release, expected to be sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.

“K9 is a clear signal of our intention and determination to compete head-to-head with the European luxury brands. And for Kia, our customers, and for me – this car is like a dream come true,”  -Kia’s chief design officer Peter Schreyer.

“K9 is a clear signal of our intention and determination to compete head-to-head with the European luxury brands. And for Kia, our customers, and for me – this car is like a dream come true,”  -Kia’s chief design officer Peter Schreyer.

There’s a great deal online right now for the Optima Hybrid. For $23,599, 5K less than the original price, you’re going to be driving one of the most advanced hybrids on the road today. Aside from the awesome sunroof you see above, the standard Optima is everything but standard.

Its electric power is the main supplier of energy and only utilizes the gas to recharge the batteries or to give extra power or speed. At those high speeds it closes the grill slots; when combined with rest of the design, this gives the Optima Hybrid a coefficient of drag of 0.26, that very few cars can match. Working linearly the electric-gas combo puts out 206HP and the seamless integration gives you a better feel than that of its “rivals”

You’ll also get the very cool auto-dimming rearview mirror, power side mirrors, and fog lamps. The steering wheel has audio controls and the touch-screen radio is Bluetooth capable and features USB connectivity. Full specs are available through the link above.

If you’re looking for even more luxury, inquire about the Optima Hybrid with the Premium Technology package. That will include heated seats throughout, heated steering wheel, and driver’s seat memory. It will also upgrade the audio and navigation systems as well as a rear-view camera.