Kia Unveils 2011 Kia Cadenza Sedan

Back in July, we reported on a future flagship sedan from Kia Motors, but those reports were base on concept vehicles and design sketches. Kia has finally taken the wraps off the production model of the luxury sedan which is based heavily off the KND-5 concept vehicle that was debuted earlier this year at the Seoul Motor Show. Kia also announced that the sedan, known internally as the VG, will be called the Cadenza in markets outside of Korea when it goes on sale next spring as a 2011 model.

When it goes on sale early next year, the 2011 Kia Cadenza will likely act as a replacement for the brand’s current luxury flagship, the Kia Amanti. The sketches that Kia released back in February turned out to be a very accurate depiction of the Cadenza right down to the 15-spoke wheels. Besides the front grille that matches Kia’s new look on the 2010 Kia Forte and the 2011 Kia Sorento, other aspects of the Cadenza’s design are seemingly inspired by the Audi A4. Also mimicking the look of Audi’s current lineup, the new sedan will feature LED “eyebrows” on the headlights, but the stylish side body crease just below the beltline should help give the car a unique profile.

According to Kia’s director of overseas marketing, Soon-Nam Lee, the 2011 Kia Cadenza should be a revolutionary vehicle for Kia in saying that “[the] new Cadenza will showcase the continuing evolution in Kia’s striking design language through the harmonious blends of light and lines. It will also present a new concept in luxury sedans in terms of performance and technology.”

We don’t doubt those claims when it comes to Kia’s technology, but the expected engine options in the Cadenza are hardly anything groundbreaking. Riding on a shared platform with the Hyundai Azera, the 2011 Kia Cadenza will offer distinct engine options including a 2.4-liter inline-4 that produces 175 horsepower and a 3.5-liter V-6 expected to produce around 273 horsepower. Unlike the Azera, or even Hyundai’s award-winning Genesis sedan, the Cadenza will offer the option of all-wheel drive although it will come standard with front-wheel drive.

Although no pictures were released showing the car’s production interior, Kia’s press release about the car seemed to back up the computerized image Kia released in July. The press release does say that cabin will feature a ‘floating’ dashboard and will offer a ‘raft’ of high-tech features. As expected from a luxury car, the 2011 Kia Cadenza will offer amenities such as a heated steering wheel, power adjustable thigh support for the front seats and heated and ventilated front seats for added comfort.

The 2011 Kia Cadenza will make its worldwide debut in December at auto shows in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai. Despite competing against in the “large, luxury sedan” segment, we expect that the Cadenza will undercut most of the competition similar to what the pricing scheme of the Hyundai Genesis. With this in mind, Kia’s all-new sedan will likely be priced higher than the starting MSRP of the 2009 Kia Amanti which is $26,045.

Select photos via Kia Motors