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Kia is working on an all-new, larger, more luxurious sedan, and our spy photographers have sent us the first images of the new car in prototype form. Illustrated images of the K9 — believed to be sourced from a Kia meeting — surfaced on the Web late last year.

Internally code-named “CH,” this all new sedan will be riding on the same chassis that underpins the Hyundai Genesis sedan. While powertrains should be fairly similar to what is found in the Genesis sedan, there may also be a new, 4.0-liter V8 rated near 400hp. Hyundai’s new 8-speed transmission will also see duty in the K9.

Essentially, the K9 will take the spot of the aging Amanti in Kia’s lineup as the brand’s flagship model, while making a sizable move upscale in the process. However, it remains to be seen what nameplate the car will carry in production form.

Details on the K9 are incredibly scarce – with so few confirmed details that some are even suggesting the car shown in the illustrations and photos is a front-wheel drive vehicle, as opposed to the rear-wheel drive that is suspected based on the shared platform with the Hyundai Genesis. However, Hyundai has suggested that it will be bringing a new rear-wheel drive sedan to the U.S. as a 2012 model year – making the K9 the only known vehicle to fill that role.