Just last year, sales of Korean cars in the European Union grew 24 percent, even though the overall market contracted. French carmakers, on the other hand, saw their sales drop with PSA Peugeot Citroen announcing plans to slash 8,000 jobs.
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We first heard rumors about a range topping Kia sedan referred to by most as the K9 in late 2009, but now, the word is coming from two company officials.
"We have an interest in all new models under development. A rear-wheel-drive premium sedan could be seen as a logical step from the Optima to the next level of Kia development," Kia Motors Australia COO Tony Barlow told Drive, an Australian car site. "It is far too early at this stage to be any more precise about the car but we will definitely maintain a watching brief,” he added.
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The sleek looking sedan which is already on sale in South Korea as the K-7, is longer and wider than the Amanti it will replace. It is expected to be revealed this year in U.S.-spec with sales to follow before the end of 2011. In its home market, the K7/Cadenza is offered with three gasoline engines ranging in output from 165HP for the four-cylinder unit to 295HP for the 3.5 liter V6.
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The Hyundai - Kia Group may be constantly surprising us with their new products, but the firm's domestic team has still a lot of learning to do when it comes to how they promote their work to the global press and consumers alike. Even though Kia was content with the release of a single photo (plus a few more leaked official shots) of its new Cadenza sedan to the foreign automotive media, understandably, most people want to see more of the Amanti / Opirus replacement.Well, thanks to South Korean dedicated Kia websites such as the K7club, Club-VG and VGClub, we now get that chance. These live pictures seem to have been shot at what appears to be a special presentation of the Cadenza somewhere in South Korea.
Aside from the detailed shots, for the first time we see the styling of the sedan's rear-end which is almost identical to the KND-5 Concept car that made its debut at the Seoul Show this past April
We remind you that Kia's new flagship saloon which is named K7 in its home market)will go on sale in South Korea towards the end of 2009 and the rest of the world in 2010.
Kia has not released any technical details on its sedan that is similar in size to the Audi A6, but it is believed that the front-wheel drive model will be available with either a 2.4-liter four cylinder or a V6 engine, and quite possibly in some markets, a four-cylinder diesel also.
Photos: K7club , Club-VG and VGclub
After an online breach on Friday gave us our first taste of the production version of Kia's 2009 Seoul Motor Show KND-5 concept car, the South Korean automaker today came out with official photos of its new range-topping sedan that has been named K7 for the domestic market and Cadenza for the rest of the world. The mid-size sedan that will replace the Opirus / Amanti (depending on the market) will make its overseas premiere at the Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai international motor shows, towards the end of the year.Soon-Nam Lee, Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, Kia Motors, said, "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."
The latest work of Kia's chief designer Peter Schreyer and his team remains close to the original concept and incorporates all the fancy-pansy styling cues we see on the automaker's newest models such as the Sorento, Forte / Coupe and Venga.
Still, to be completely frank, the Cadenza is a disappointment when compared to the KND-5 concept model as the vehicle's proportions have been altered -look at the front overhang for example- while many of the styling details have been watered down.
Sure it looks a million times better than the Amanti, but a game changer (in terms of styling) it is not. Or at least that's what we think.
There are no photos of the Cadenza's cabin but Kia says that highlights include the "futuristic 'floating' dashboard" and an "interior mood lighting strip that runs along the dashboard to the door trim" - whatever that means.
According to Kia, available new technologies will include a heated steering wheel (for winter driving in cold markets), powered extendable seat cushions (for extra thigh support), automatic defogging of the windshield and ventilated front seats (for cool comfort in hot markets).
The new Cadenza is expected to go on sale in South Korea before the end of the year and the rest of the world during the first half of 2010. Kia's new mid-size sedan will most probably be offered with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with direct-injection churning out about 200 HP and the Kia/Hyundai Lambda V6 petrol. A diesel option should also be in the mix for certain markets.
2011 Kia Cadenza Sedan
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Kia KND-5 Concept Car
