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Kia Magentis
Following in the footsteps of the Hyundai Sonata, the Kia Optima, known as the Magentis in Europe, has also received a ground-up redesign. Kia debuted the Magentis in Frankfurt and it seemed to win over the journalist crowd with its larger size, the addition of a diesel engine, and its new more mainstream styling.
While not distinctive enough to stand out in a crowd, the Magentis is a fine looking sedan with a deep grille and
headlights that evoke the Infiniti Q45 by climbing up the fenders. The new diesel engine is a 2.0L turbocharged
four-cylinder producing 138 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque. Also available are a four- and five-speed automatic, as well as
a five-speed manual and a six-speed manual transmission available in conjunction with the diesel engine.
Kia seems to be content existing in the shadow of its parent company, Hyundai, and it will no doubt stay there for the
foreseeable future. But as Hyundai continues to rise up the sales chart thanks to a stable of more competitive
products, Kia stands to benefit greatly from new vehicles like the Magentis that possess all the winning qualities of
the Hyundai products from which theyre derived.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
sirAQUAMAN64 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
It's Magentis in Canada as well. Only in the US is it Optima I believe (maybe because GM has the 'Optima' nameplate a few years ago here on some rebadged imports, I'm not sure).
The interior centre stack looks nicer and youthful than Sonata.
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Robin 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
I never thought of much of Kia's or Hyundai's until I starting reading Exective Wheels by Jeff Rundle on www.cobizmag.com.
I'm going to have to take a second look.
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Pip 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
The overall shape (especially the doors) just pop up the Lexus LS in my mind
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Pinkerton 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
That's not a bad looking little car. The 138HP turbodiesel / 6 speed combo is interesting too.
BTW, VW called, they want their rims back.
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Jeff 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
wow..front end is a copy of the infiniti Q45
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Merkis 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Nice- but I can still see faint Sonata lines in it- in the grill- in the rear doors- the the shape of the tail lights- etc.
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Merkis 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Nice- but I can still see faint Sonata lines in it- in the grill- in the rear doors- the the shape of the tail lights- etc.
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Joel A 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Not bad looking or distinctive but not offensive, either. Kinda reminds me of the upcoming Hyundai Azera.
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creanium 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
LS430 front + GS rear = new Kia
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Bruno Maglia 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Looks like someone got out the tracing paper and produced a shrunken Q45 in front and enlarged IS350 in the back.
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CrunchyCookie 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
WHAT AN INFINITI/LEXUS RIPOFF!
After this and the Jaguar-Mercedes-ripped Amanti, you gotta wonder how strongly Kia believes in the "if you copy from one source, it's stealing; if you copy from many sources, it's art" philosophy.
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