Carscoop Reader Spots New Kia Cadenza Filling up in California

It's been a little over a year since Kia lifted the wraps off its stylish replacement for the Amanti, called the K7 in South Korea and Cadenza in other countries, but we're still waiting for the firm's flagship sedan to show up in the USA. However if these (fuzzy) photos are anything to go by, Kia may be getting ready to launch the Cadenza onto the U.S. market.

The silver-colored mid-size sedan was scooped by Carscoop reader Nick K., who you might remember from the first ever Prius MPV spy shots we posted last September, while filling up at a gas station in California.

"The other day I was sitting at a restaurant in Corona Del Mar, California and spotted a Kia Cadenza (K7). Here are the VERY zoomed in pictures I took with my phone," Nick told Carscoop.

The Cadenza, which sits above the Optima in Kia's range, is available in its home country with a choice of three gasoline engines ranging in output from 165HP for the four-cylinder model to 295HP for the 3.5 liter V6. All variants feature front-wheel drive and a new six-speed automatic transmission.

Kudos to Nick K. for the Kia spotting!

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Live Photos of Kia's KND-5 Mid-Size Sedan Concept from Seoul Show

This near-production concept car is the Kia KND-5 and it made its world premiere alongside the new 7-seater Sorento CUV at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show. Boasting an aggressive four-door coupe styling in the likes of Volkswagen's Passat CC (the reference to VW's model was not by chance...), the KND-5 give us a pretty good idea of what the production version that's scheduled to debut in Korea in late 2009, and most likely, in other markets including North America and Europe, in 2010, will look like.

The KND-5 measures 4,945mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,475mm high with a wheelbase of 2,845mm, meaning that it is roughly the same size as the firm's Amanti sedan which is known in many markets as the Opirus. Power is provided by Hyundai group's 3.5-liter V6 Lambda gasoline engine that produces, depending on the model, between 275 and 310HP.

Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President & COO, International Business Division, said, "The aggressive and sophisticated KND-5 exemplifies Kia's futuristic design and values. As a concept car that presents the new direction of luxury sedan design, KND-5 will likely generate a lot of buzz at the Seoul Motor Show."

Our take? It appears that Kia has began reaping fruits of Peter Schreyers labor as the company's head designer.

Live pics courtesy of Kia World

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Kia VG Sedan Concept Study Leaked ahead of Seoul Motor Show

A photograph depicting what looks to be a near-production concept study of a mid-size Kia sedan has found its way into the web. Word is that the so-called VG Concept most likely previews the next-generation Amanti sedan, but since we do not have any official information, it would be better if we left a question mark until we hear something from Kia. The VG Concept is slated to make its world premiere along with the all-new Sorento SUV and Kia's first production hybrid model, the Forte LPI, at next week's 2009 Seoul Motor Show that runs from April 3 to 12.

Source: TheCarBlogger , Via: Autoblog.com

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Official details and High-Res pic of Kia's VG KND-5 Concept Sedan

Following an online leak this past weekend, Kia released a high-resolution photo as well as initial details on its KND-5 concept sedan that will make its world debut at the Seoul Motor Show (April 3-12, 2009). While Kia revealed that the concept study previews a production model that will be revealed at the end of the year, the Korean automaker did not make it clear whether or not the KND-5 will replace the Amanti otherwise known as the Opirus.

However, the KND-5's exterior dimensions bring it closer to the Amanti than to the Optima (Magentis in Europe) measuring in at 4,950 mm or 194.9 in. in length (Amanti: 5,001 mm or 196.9 in.) with a wheelbase of 2,845mm or 112 in. (Amanti: 110.2 in.).

The medium-size concept sedan that will be on display at Kia's Seoul stand will be powered by the Hyundai group's 3.5-liter V6 engine.

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