KIA Opirus/Amanti 2003-2007 Photos, engines & full specs

Based on the same platform as the Hyundai XG350, the Opirus/Amanti was introduced as Kia's flagship model in 2003 at the Geneva Motor Show.

The carmaker said that it produced the car for the 40-to-60-year-old professionals and put all the bells and whistles it had in its shop. Too bad that it didn't invest more in the design department, though, since the car showed a Jaguar S-Type – Mercedes-Benz E-Class-inspired front fascia and a rear side that resembled a Lincoln Town Car.

At the front, the four round headlights that flanked the shield-styled grille shook the market. But that design made the car very easy to recognize in traffic. Its cab-rearward design with a raked windshield and almost vertical rear windscreen induced the idea of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, even though it was front-wheel-drive. In the back, the horizontal taillights crossed from the rear quarter panels to the trunk lid, with the reversing lights on the corners.

Inside, Kia installed wood trims on the dashboard, door panels, and center stack, creating an upmarket image for a car that was 30% cheaper than a Mercedes-Benz E350. The carmaker offered the vehicle in a single trim level for the American market, with a leather-clad interior, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a premium CD-cassette-radio sound system. For other countries, the Opirus/Amanti was available with heated and reclining rear seats. Since it had a longer wheelbase than the Hyundai XG, it offered more legroom for the rear passengers.

Under the hood, the Opirus/Amanti was available with a few engine choices. The U.S. market received only the Mitsubishi-licensed 3.5-liter V6 paired to a five-speed automatic.