Dubbed Kia Cadenza for most of the world, expect to see this sedan show up as the 2011 Kia Amanti replacement.
Don’t let the name fool you, the sleek new sedan taking its bow over in Seoul, today, may be known as the Kia Cadenza, to much of the world, but when it finally reaches the U.S., it will be dubbed the Kia Amanti, a replacement for the Korean carmaker’s current top-line 4-door.
The new car is clearly aimed at enhancing Kia’s already improving image. The smaller sibling to the “other” Korean automaker, Hyundai, it’s been scoring steady gains in quality and is trying to move up from its traditional econobox base. The old Amanti simply wasn’t going to cut it, especially with Hyundai scoring big with the Genesis line.
Curiously, though, the Cadenza/Amanti won’t show up in Los Angeles, next month. Its big debut is scheduled for Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Motor Show, a few weeks later.
The new sedan is based on Kia’s all-new Type-N platform, which uses a front-drive layout. Though the wheelbase has been stretched to 112 inches, the overall length is down from the current Amanti, to 195.5 inches, and the overall vehicle has lost about 280 pounds, at 3465 lbs curb weight. That suggests not only a more trim but nimble product. The design was handled by a team including Kia’s global design director Peter Schreyer, who aimed for what the company describes as “stand-out…modernity.”
For global markets, Kia plans to offer three different engines when sales begin, in January, including the 3.5-liter 290-horsepower Lambda V-6.
The new sedan will feature the usual suspects list of high-tech systems, including keyless entry, dual-zone climate control and a rearview camera.
“With the Cadenza, we have created an all-new, large sedan that will revitalize Kia’s fortunes thanks to its exciting appearance, strong performance and luxurious cabin which will guarantee a much broader consumer appeal, attracting thousands of new customers to our brand,” declared Hyoung-Keun Lee, President, Kia Motors Corporation.
No word on when sales will start in North America, though it’s likely to be sometime in the 2011 model-year.