Hyundai and Kia continue to snag more market share than any other U.S. automaker, and vehicles like this new Kia Amanti are the reason why. Based on the Kia VG Concept, this new Kia Cadenza will replace the forgettable Amanti.
Like the outgoing Amanti, the new Cadenza will be a FWD sedan powered by a fourbanger and, possibly a V6. Either way, it's a visual leap from the current Amanti even if it's not going to be an engineering one.
Kia Motors Corporation has taken the wraps off its new Cadenza, the production version of its VG concept car – an all-new saloon car designed to deliver refinement, safety and emotional satisfaction in an ‘ideal' driving package.
The stylish luxury sedan, which is to be called ‘Cadenza' in markets outside of Korea, will make its overseas premiere at motor shows in the Middle East, towards the end of the year.
The Cadenza name is derived from an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto or aria. It perfectly symbolises the dynamic saloon's striking design philosophy and premium image.
Sporty and sleek in appearance, Cadenza features a bold headlamp design with attention-grabbing LED surrounds and a purposeful, athletic character line. The prominent front grille and stylish tail-lights emphasise the car's high-tech feel and are a continuing expression of Kia's dramatic design DNA.
On the inside, there is a futuristic ‘floating' dashboard that highlights Kia's uniquely innovative design approach. The welcome system turns on the exterior puddle and interior lights to ‘greet' the driver, while the interior mood lighting strip, which runs along the dashboard to the door trim, creates a warm atmosphere within the vehicle.
The Kia Cadenza's dynamic design and driving performance, allied with a raft of competitive passenger-friendly high-tech features, will make it a leader in the large, luxury sedan market segment.
Luxury features will include a heated steering wheel for winter driving in cold countries, powered extendable seat cushions to give extra thigh support, automatic defogging of the windscreen and ventilated front seats providing cool comfort in hot countries.
Soon-Nam Lee, Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, Kia Motors Corporation, said, "The new Cadenza will showcase the continuing evolution in Kia's striking design language through the harmonious blend of light and lines. It will also present a new concept in luxury sedans in terms of performance and technology."
Cadenza is positioned above the existing Magentis model in Kia's global line-up but currently there are no plans to bring to vehicle to the UK.
Kia Motors (UK) Limited Managing Director Michael Cole commented: "Despite its striking appearance and high-tech engineering I do not believe this is the right time to try and extend our range into a sector of the market that is dominated by German brands. But Cadenza shows clearly how Kia's design-led philosophy under Peter Schreyer is producing startling new products and it is clear from this car that our future new model programme – which starts next year with Venga and the all-new Sorento – is going to continue the dramatic development of our brand in the UK"