2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/179462It is shown that a large class of higher-order (i.e. non-quadratic) scalar kinetic terms can, without the help of potential terms, drive an inflationary evolution starting from rather generic initial conditions. In many models, this kinetically driven inflation (or "k-inflation" for short) rolls slowly from a high-curvature initial phase, down to a low-curvature phase and can exit inflation to end up being radiation-dominated, in a naturally graceful manner. We hope that this novel inflation mechanism might be useful in suggesting new ways of reconciling the string dilaton with inflation.LaTeX, 20 pages including 3 figures. Submitted to Phys. Lett. BHigh Energy Physics - TheoryAstrophysicsGeneral Relativity and Quantum Cosmologytext