Kia reveals upmarket saloon

-Chris-

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/243784/kia_reveals_upmarket_saloon.html

Named after an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish; Kia's latest car, the Cadenza is aiming high. Looking to compete with the Audi A6 and BMW 5-series, the newcomer represents the Korean firm's first foray into the luxury saloon market.

Based on the VG concept shown at the Seoul Motor Show earlier this year, the Cadenza sports a sleek exterior design with hints of BMW 3-Series and Saab 9-5. Styling touches such as a prominent front grille and aggressive-looking headlights surrounded by LEDs, complement the sporty exterior.

The Cadenza continues to impress inside with a raft of striking design features, including a 'floating' dashboard and a mood-lighting strip to bathe the interior in a warm glow. Luxury gadgets are everywhere with a heated steering wheel, powered extendable seat cushions and ventilated, 'cooling' front seats all included as standard.

There's no word yet on what will power the Cadenza, although the 273bhp 3.5-litre V6 from the original VG concept is likely to be amongst the choices.
The all-new saloon will be officially released at Middle Eastern motor shows later this year, hinting at its target market. But there are no plans to for it to go on sale in Britain. A spokesman for Kia UK said: "Despite its striking appearance and high-tech engineering I do not believe this is the right time to try and extend our range into a sector of the market that is dominated by German brands."

I'm not sure how this will sell around the world, but my favorite bit of the article is

A spokesman for Kia UK said: "Despite its striking appearance and high-tech engineering I do not believe this is the right time to try and extend our range into a sector of the market that is dominated by German brands."

That man should be in the diplomatic corps, that is a really beautiful way to say "it'd flop".

junkyard

Another domestic appliance, what's with the melted look they all seem to be doing at the moment, they look gross.

niceirishfella

Que the Kia Snobs!

-Chris-

I'm getting a really strong Insignia vibe off it...

Tragedy

-Chris- wrote: »

I'm getting a really strong Insignia vibe off it...

Slightly less organic/modern Insignia.

.Longshanks.

-Chris- wrote: »

I'm getting a really strong Insignia vibe off it...

Me too. Kia need to come up with their own ideas / style. The Pro'ceed is a cross between the 3 door astra and an A3

Saab Ed

niceirishfella wrote: »

Que the Kia Snobs!

I have no idea if this car is any good or not but going on past glories I'd guess its sh!te. Looking to compete with the A6 and 5 Series is one thing but doing it is another. When Kia make a nice car then I'll praise it, but until then.......

Alanstrainor

-Chris- wrote: »

I'm getting a really strong Insignia vibe off it...

Yeah, that;s the first thing i thought, although it's like an insignia on sleeping pills or something. They hit it with a big boring-stick me thinks.

Seth Brundle

The majority of people who want to by an executive car such as the Audi, BMW, Lexus or Merc would rather walk than get a Kia.
Don't get me wrong but like the Sonata, it will not be a big seller and will be regarded as the poor substitute used by those not earning enough, etc.

JHMEG

kbannon wrote: »

The majority of people who want to by an executive car such as the Audi, BMW, Lexus or Merc would rather walk than get a Kia.
Don't get me wrong but like the Sonata, it will not be a big seller and will be regarded as the poor substitute used by those not earning enough, etc.

There is some sort of irony in the fact that Hyundai have outsold 3 out of 4 of those marques so far this year (the exception is Audi).

It's about car sales at the end of the day....

Saab Ed

kbannon wrote: »

The majority of people who want to by an executive car such as the Audi, BMW, Lexus or Merc would rather walk than get a Kia.
Don't get me wrong but like the Sonata, it will not be a big seller and will be regarded as the poor substitute used by those not earning enough, etc.

You see when you take the individual cars in context they start to make sense. A Korean car will never be a Luxury brand in Europe just like Lexus, even though its Japanese car, never sold well in Europe. The reason being because Europeans dont just want bigger and brasher, they want real quality with pedigree. Now you take a Sonata in the States where every road is wide, straight and flat and every second journey is epic by our standards and all of a sudden the Sonata makes sense, not as a Luxury car but as a big family saloon car. A Sonata in the states is like a Ford Mondeo here with all the extras. But for some reason the Koreans keep trying to sell us what they call up-market. Do they not get it. Even if its the best car in the world ( which its not cause its a Kia and they're sh!te ) its the wrong badge. Ireland is a European Lexus market share exception because most Irish customers that bought them were very new money and loved the bling factor, not something our European neighbours aspire to

junkyard

It's a mish mash of every other car really, just like the previous models. I don't believe they've ever had an original design. Any time I see a Kia ceed it looks like an Opel Astra, a BMW 1 series and a Honda Civic all rolled into one.

Zube

Saab Ed wrote: »

Ireland is a European Lexus market share exception because most Irish customers that bought them were very new money and loved the bling factor, not something our European neighbours aspire to

I think Lexus don't sell in Europe because everyone knows they are really Toyotas, whereas they sell really well in Ireland because everyone knows they are really Toyotas.

bazz26

Zube wrote: »

I think Lexus don't sell in Europe because everyone knows they are really Toyotas, whereas they sell really well in Ireland because everyone knows they are really Toyotas.

Yet people have no problem paying a premium for an Audi, sure we all know they are just a fancy VW. Or is it because they are German that people are more forgiving or gulable?

Henry Ford III

It'll be hugely fast........to depreciate.

Easier to get rid of a house in Ballincoillig

Saab Ed

bazz26 wrote: »

Yet people have no problem paying a premium for an Audi, sure we all know they are just a fancy VW. Or is it because they are German that people are more forgiving or gulable?

Ah in fairness there's a world apart from a Lexus and an Audi. Lexus just loads the car with extras and bling, there's still very little individual design going on there and they still seem to be imitating Europes best or just making large barges for yanks. Audi on the other hand ( and Im not a fan ) set the tone for design and perceived quality. They and other German brands still set the tone for what Lexus will be building in 5 to 6 years. After 20 years of copying Europe Lexus still does Wavin pipe wood, Corolla mirror switches and road noise like no other.