Autoblog

2011 Kia Cadenza bows in Korea, replacing Amanti in the U.S.

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Kia, Misc. Auto Shows, South Korea

2011 Kia Cadenza - Click above for high-res image gallery

Kia has taken the wraps off the 2010 Cadenza in its home market before its official debut at next month's Riyadh Motor Show in Saudi Arabia, and if you're wondering what the South Korean automaker had planned for the next generation Amanti, this is it.

Based on an all-new front-drive platform (Type-N) spanning 195.5 inches, the Cadenza is slightly shorter than the Amanti it's due to replace, but its wheelbase has grown to 112 inches and Kia managed to reduce the weight by over 280 pounds while keeping torsional rigidity and overall strength up. MacPherson struts are employed up front with a multi-link suspension in the rear, while 11.8-inch discs (front) and 11.2-inch rotors (rear) are hidden behind standard 16-inch or optional 17-inch wheels.

Three engines, each mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, will be available when the Cadenza launches outside of North America in January. Outputs will range from 162 (four-cylinder) to 286 hp (V6), with the latter like to come to the US. Kia hasn't released when the new Amanti will make it Stateside, but the smart money says sometime late in 2010. Make the jump for the full release.

Gallery: 2011 Kia Cadenza/Amanti

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading 2011 Kia Cadenza bows in Korea, replacing Amanti in the U.S.

2011 Kia Cadenza bows in Korea, replacing Amanti in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Kia Amanti making switch to Genesis RWD platform?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Kia, Rumormill, South Korea

From its divisive baroque styling to its status as the court jester of the rental car circuit, the Kia Amanti has so far lived a less than charmed life. The Amanti's tough luck story could change in a big hurry, however, if a new story from Motor Trend is true. MT is reporting that the Amanti is will be going rear-wheel drive as soon as late 2011 on a smaller version of the Hyundai Genesis Sedan platform.

Since Kia is more value-oriented as a brand than Hyundai, most expect the new Amanti to be a few thousand dollars cheaper than the Genesis Sedan. The current Amanti has a lofty starting price of $26,045, but boatloads of incentives are needed to move them off dealer lots.

Motor Trend speculates that the 375-hp Tau V8 engine probably won't make its way under the hood of the next Amanti, with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and the 3.8-liter V6 being the more likely powertrains. We're thinking that a range of four- and six-cylinder engines would be sufficient, especially when considering tough new fuel economy laws scheduled for 2011 and beyond.

We do have one question, however. With such a radical rethink apparently in store and not having a great deal of brand equity tied up in the Amanti brand, wouldn't Kia be better off finding a new name? They haven't seemed too reluctant to change model names in recent years when bringing out new models, so perhaps they'll consider a change in designations.

Either way, with its hip and stylish Soul, the surprisingly competent Optima, along with the pretty new Forte and Koup models, Kia's lineup has gotten a radical overhaul for the better. If the next-gen Amanti is anywhere near as good as Hyundai's Genesis Sedan, the competition should keep a very close eye on boys from South Korea.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Rumormill: Kia Amanti making switch to Genesis RWD platform? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In The Autoblog Garage: 2007 Kia Amanti

Dan Roth — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, Kia

click on the picture above to see a gallery

This is your father's Oldsmobile. Well, not quite. My Dad's Olds was a '65 Starfire with a 425. A lead sled, sure, but not in the pejorative sense that the phrase "your father's Oldsmobile" is supposed to connote. Okay, so the Kia Amanti is more like the hyperbolic manifestation of your father's Oldsmobile, were that car to be exceptionally plush and fitted with a suspension made of marshmallow.

The Amanti is a very well appointed vehicle; you get a lot for your dollar. If your idea of a good car equates to the most stuff for the lowest expenditure, the Amanti's value proposition is difficult to top. The engine room is occupied by an amply torquey 3.8 liter V6, so you'll be to bingo on time, and with the Kia's capricious accommodations, you will end up being the chauffeur. We already knew that the Amanti was a well-fitted ride for a very reasonable price, so our time with it offered insight into how the package works as a whole.

Gallery: In The Autoblog Garage: 2007 Kia Amanti

Continue reading In The Autoblog Garage: 2007 Kia Amanti

In The Autoblog Garage: 2007 Kia Amanti originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Opirus confirmed as next Amanti

Joel Arellano — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 14:38:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Sedan, Paris Motor Show, Kia

Remember our post about the revised Kia Opirus? The sedan, which is sold in North America as the Kia Amanti, will be arriving in the U.S. some time next year. According to senior vice president Jean-Charles Lievens of Kia Motors Europe, the 2007 Opirus/Amanti will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show this September.

Besides its heavily revised interior and exterior, Kia's flagship will boast a new all-aluminum, 3.8-liter, 266 horsepower engine, replacing the current 200 horsepower one. It's too early to tell what the price may be, though speculation is around $30K, a new high for the Korean automaker.

[Source: Edmunds]

Kia Opirus confirmed as next Amanti originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Aug 2006 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia's updated Opirus may give sneak peek at new Amanti

John Neff — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:08:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Kia

While trolling the AutoWeek forums we found a post that led us to Kia's Korean website where, front and center, the brand was touting the "N.E.X.T. Opirus". We're not sure what "N.E.X.T." stands for, but it's clear from these photos that Kia has gone to the trouble of cleaning up the front and rear clips of the Opirus, which is the basis for the North American Amanti. The front end looks much better with a wider and shorter grille (are those LED lamps in the lower bumper à la the Audi S6?), while out back... is that... is that a Bangle-butt on a Kia (see the rear shot after the jump)? The interior including the center console is also redone and now includes the requisite navigation system the Amanti has been missing for so long.

The improvements are much appreciated, but end far short of a complete redesign. The Opirus, however, does get a major boost in power thanks to the corporate 3.8-liter V6 also used in the Hyundai Azera. Producing 263 horsepower, the larger powerplant would give the Amanti a lot more get up and go than its current 200-hp, 3.5-liter V6.

The AutoWeek forum members are now haggling over price, some insisting that if these changes occur to the North American Amanti that its base price will immediately crest the $30K mark, putting Kia in uncharted territory.

(Follow the jump for additional pics of the exterior and interior)

[Source: AutoWeek forums]

Continue reading Kia's updated Opirus may give sneak peek at new Amanti

Kia's updated Opirus may give sneak peek at new Amanti originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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