Pretty much so in the design end, however it is much tighter in the construction and a few mods that make it more user friendly. For instance the grip safety and Its extended base enabled you to rest the thumb of your shooting hand on top of the manual safety lever otherwise you might inadvertently apply the slim speed safety during firing. The construction of the weapon is slightly different than the basic 1911 .45 but I found the functionality better and it was more accurate and practical than the original design.
I know you can make a 1911 tight and very accurate with the right aftermarket parts, but I guess at the price of a genuine 1911 and the cost of converting it it would be easier to buy the Kimber.
What do you think of Desert Eagle? .45 .40