Kia moves upmarket with Cadenza

Kia is following parent company Hyundai into the entry level luxury market with Cadenza, a new elegant offering designed to replace the stylishly awkward Amanti.

Kia also seems to be borrowing a bit from Hyundai’s naming trend by using a musical term for the nameplate – cadenza is an improvised ornamental piece played or sung by a soloist to show off his/her virtuosity.

Although still taking some liberties with the Kia design philosophy, the Cadenza face bears more of a passing resemblance to the direction established by chief designer Peter Schreyer, than Amanti’s egg-crate grille and round headlights did to the previous brood. Stylish creases along the hood/fender line and from the front wheels through the side doors provide the attention to detail that permeates the entry-luxury market inhabited by Cadenza rivals such as the Lexus ES 350 and Lincoln MKZ.

To show it belongs among such company, Cadenza uses some of the recent luxury market design cues – LED position lights, for example, as well as a panoramic roof, puddle lamps and an interior soft lighting accent strip. Keyless entry with push button start, power front seats, dual zone climate control and a rearview camera parking assist system are expected.

Also expect a full leather interior for these shores, along with the usual smattering of upscale trim materials – faux metal or wood pieces along the dash and centre console – to position the car up from the new Magentis that is going to be topping out at about the same price at which Cadenza is expected to debut.

Although not many details are available, Cadenza is expected to continue with a choice of four cylinder and V6 engines, although we wouldn’t be surprised if Kia decided to just go with a V6 in order to again differentiate it from Magentis.

Assuming it would have two engine choices, though, the four cylinder would likely be a version of the 2.4 introduced for the new 2011 Hyundai Sonata, and the six would like be a reworked version of the new Sorento’s 3.5-litre V6. A six speed sequentially shiftable automatic sends power to the front wheels.

The usual complement of safety features are also expected – six airbags, traction and stability control, antilock brakes – as well as the traditional front strut and rear multilink suspension set-up. The car rides on 17 inch wheels with a larger diameter upgrade expected.

Sales are expected to start in fall 2010.