Photo: Kia
When it comes to full-size luxury sedans, most of us think of the Mercedes S-Class first, followed by the BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8. Only after that come Japanese models followed by… nothing. But Kia is another great example of an unassuming car company edging deep into the luxury market.
It might sound like a huge departure from what most Americans associate with the brand. But actually, we tested the K900 and found it had a lot to offer for the money (starts at around $67,000 in luxury trim).
This is the next slam dunk from the company. Dubbed the K7 in South Korea, it's sold in several other markets as the Cadenza. The current generation replaced the ugly Opirus in 2010, and a successor will debut in early 2016.
We have the first official photos as well as two design sketches that preview a BMW-like sports sedan. We know that Peter Schreyer likes short front overhangs and bold grilles, so we suspect he had something to do with this bad boy. From the front, we notice an elongated hood, a wider, lower stance and sharper styled exterior.
The big grille still has the trademark Tiger Nose appearance, but it's concave in the middle like Maserati's. Four individual LED fog lights on each side convey an air of refinement and sophistication uncharacteristic of the brand.
From the back, we notice a Z-shaped design element has been used. Unfortunately, we don't know if the 3.3-liter engine mention on the trunk is an indication of the latest twin-turbo V6 with 370 PS that's been fitted to the Genesis G90. But considering this isn't the biggest Kia model, it could still be a naturally aspirated unit with about 300 ponies as seen in the 2015 Sorento AWD.
We only have a teaser of the interior, but it's enough to give substance to our claims that the Cadenza has been inspired by zee Germans. Like the one on the S-Class, the speedometer and infotainment system are kind of connected. But the buttons and the wood trim look like they were pulled from a BMW. Didn't we see that exact gear shifter on the old Audi A4?
This is the next slam dunk from the company. Dubbed the K7 in South Korea, it's sold in several other markets as the Cadenza. The current generation replaced the ugly Opirus in 2010, and a successor will debut in early 2016.
We have the first official photos as well as two design sketches that preview a BMW-like sports sedan. We know that Peter Schreyer likes short front overhangs and bold grilles, so we suspect he had something to do with this bad boy. From the front, we notice an elongated hood, a wider, lower stance and sharper styled exterior.
The big grille still has the trademark Tiger Nose appearance, but it's concave in the middle like Maserati's. Four individual LED fog lights on each side convey an air of refinement and sophistication uncharacteristic of the brand.
From the back, we notice a Z-shaped design element has been used. Unfortunately, we don't know if the 3.3-liter engine mention on the trunk is an indication of the latest twin-turbo V6 with 370 PS that's been fitted to the Genesis G90. But considering this isn't the biggest Kia model, it could still be a naturally aspirated unit with about 300 ponies as seen in the 2015 Sorento AWD.
We only have a teaser of the interior, but it's enough to give substance to our claims that the Cadenza has been inspired by zee Germans. Like the one on the S-Class, the speedometer and infotainment system are kind of connected. But the buttons and the wood trim look like they were pulled from a BMW. Didn't we see that exact gear shifter on the old Audi A4?
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