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Kia K7, Amanti replacement

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The Amanti was horrific looking when it came out, and it’s not getting any better with age.
The replacement comes out in Korea next month.
We should be getting it over here in a few months.

It is now a really good looking car. Compared to what else you get in that segment.
It will be based on a platform that will also be used for the next Hyundai Azera.
Engine choices are, at least in Korea, the 2.4 Liter 4 cylinder with 200hp, or a 3.5 Liter V6 with about 280hp.

If image was no object, this could give quite a hard time to the Lexus ES or the Acura TL.
But image IS an object in the near luxury car market.
I’m not sure that many people will be trading in their Lexus models for a Kia.

But for people who wish they could get a TL or Es but can’t afford one, it would work.
The old story of Hyundai and Kia….

Conversation 36 comments

  1. this thing is horrific, the ugly old dog was nicer. Kia builds pure and utter junk. Hyundai is no better.

  2. The tide is turing on their "old story". Their sales momentum does not lie. There's not a car company in this world who hasn't got an "old story" to tell.

    Hyundai and Kia are no laughing matter and I'm not ashamed to say I own one and love it. It's called being an educated consumer.

  3. How can Kia produce such a nice looking family sedan and Honda, Toyota and Subaru can't. I'll give Nissan (Altima) and Mazda (6) some credit, but to all the Japanese car companies, you better hire some Korean designers. Watch out!

  4. "But for people who wish they could get a TL or Es but can't afford one, it would work."

    Except that, in my opinion, the Lexus is drab and boring and the Acura is hideous with its shield, while this actually looks nice.

    I usually like sporty hatchbacks, but I would consider a Forte Koup when it comes time to replace my current vehicle. I wish they'd bring out a hatch version of the Forte.

  6. This is the guy who can get any design from A to Z. You probably seen my commets on here. Saying things like "If it was a Kia people would say the Tundra looked like the VW Iroc concept". Unlike some people who like to live in Lala land like their favorite car company doesn't copy and get upset when I say "The Pilot's back end looks like the Scion XB." I don't get upset because I can get cars from A to Z.

    Nice Design Kia btw.
    Oh yeah, I'm a Kia owner too.

  7. I'mv having a hard time trying to see the market for all the overlaping cars Hyundai/Kia have. What distinct features lure on the fence Forte/Optima buyers and Optima/(K7) buyers? The same can thing can also be said for the Hyundai equivalents to add in yet another variable. What would be the advantage of getting a K7 over an Optima with the exception of cabin and trunk volume?

    I'm also surprised that there will be a "next Azera" after the current model has been allowed to rot away (not that it's a bad vehicle).

  8. It's definitely a sharp looking car, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of bang for the buck. Hyundai and Kia are on a roll!

  9. This is why GM, Ford, and Chrysler have an uphill climb to regain market share. I doubt that our domestic brands will keep up with the Asian cars.

  10. Saab copy on the front end and Buick Regal (Opel version) copy on the side profile. Again, nothing original from the Koreans. Just copy, copy, copy.

  11. I think Kia/Hyundai is gaining market share a LOT faster than Toyota/Honda did in the
    70's & '80's. And they're mostly taking it from other Japanese Manufacturer's. (American,& to a much lesser extent European; styling is different enough to not be a DIRECT competitor to the Koreans– unlike the Japanese, who are increasingly being seen as just overpriced Korean alternatives.)

  13. Vince, I don't think you could be any more wrong. Hyundai and Kia are no longer for people who can't afford better.

    One of the executives at my company traded in his 5 series (which was a company car) and got a Genesis 4.6.

    "Anonymous said…
    The tide is turing on their "old story". Their sales momentum does not lie. There's not a car company in this world who hasn't got an "old story" to tell.

    Hyundai and Kia are no laughing matter and I'm not ashamed to say I own one and love it. It's called being an educated consumer.

    October 15, 2009 6:28 PM"

    x2.

    I don't own a Hyundai or a Kia but they are certainly a force to be reckoned with.

    The president of both Honda and Toyota have admitted that Hyundai and Kia are doing amazingly well, and that they must watch what they are doing.

  14. This looks better than the new Sonata, even. Perhaps a bit mainstream but the front is not so exaggerated.

    Vince, comments like "people who wish they could get X but cant afford it" are more than a bit unfair. The comment has merit in some ways, but not everyone is sitting around dreaming of being able to waste more money on a car to impress the fools on the road. Maybe in Los Angeles that is true, but plenty of us buy well beneath our means because it is the wise thing to do. I know because I could easily be behind the wheel of a new S-class if I felt like wasting the money, but I drive a Ford because it does everything I want, comfortably, doesn't cause me problems, and my investments are a minimum of $100k higher as a result. I also don't judge people by their cars.

  15. I strongly believe my existing Amanti looks way better then this piece of junk..
    The new design sucks..
    Vince u hearing..

  16. "this thing is horrific, the ugly old dog was nicer"- Flanders

    Either you're blind or just REALLY anti-Korean cars.

    This car looks very nice.

  18. Sales Momentum, hmmmmm, sounds like the wrong measure to follow, Gm was always the sales leader, hmmmm

  20. "This is a Korean imitation BMW 7 series…"

    Proof? Especially with the Kia's FWD setup and all.

    I'm failing to see how this is as ugly as a 7-Series. I bet it has more interior space too.

  21. Jealousy is the sincerest form of flattery…

    The formula isn't that difficult to figure out…

    Hire Europeans designers, decent Asian engineers, and build with cheap labor in US or Korea and you will always have a receipe for sucess.

    Isn't this similar to what Honda and Toyota did in the late eighties. Problem now with Honda and Toyota with design centers in US, is they're desingers are getting old and complacent…just like GM within the past 2 decades…and we know what happened to their cars. Honda and Toyota need fresh blood to rejuvinate styling of their vehicles…Just like GM is doing now!

  23. Wow! This looks suprisingly good. I still don't like the notches in the front grill but overall the car looks very good.

  24. I just want to clear something up:

    Everyone keeps on saying that the Japanese brands are falling behind, I agree to a point.

    Honda is the only one who isn't having sales problems and still actually produces a QUALITY vehicle that isn't built to a price point. Toyota can't say the same thing and neither can Nissan. Toyota is getting a lot of negative press recently because of its slipping quality and questionable ethics. Nissan has outdated and outclassed models that haven't changed in years (aside from the wonderful GT-R and the 370Z).

    Hyundai and Kia are doing an awesome job and I hope they keep it up. It will force the Japanese to do even better.

  26. "Saab copy on the front end and Buick Regal (Opel version) copy on the side profile. Again, nothing original from the Koreans. Just copy, copy, copy."

    Oh no you didn't bring up the unorginal Buick Regal. That greenhouse came from the Nissan Altima. How you going to say "Copy, copy, copy" when everyone else does it too? You want me to open up your eyes so you can see other cars are copying too? Here try this? Tundra, Iroc and Lancer.

  28. Mark my words, Hyundai and Kia will become Ford's worst nightmare. This car is a masterpiece and I believe they have another half dozen or so new models coming out in the next year.

  29. Nothing Hooday, Kea build touches any Nissan. Names mispelled purposely, they are not even worth spelling correctly.

  30. "Nothing Hooday, Kea build touches any Nissan. Names mispelled purposely, they are not even worth spelling correctly."

    Sounds like your worried their. Just becuase the Cube never out sold the Soul in the USA has you worried. Or the fact that both Hyundai and Kia's quality is ranked higher than Nissan? Or the face that Hyundai/Kia are like very close to outselling Nissan/Infinti every month. Can't touch Nissan? Hmmm, yeah you sound worried.

  31. "Nothing Hooday, Kea build touches any Nissan. Names mispelled purposely, they are not even worth spelling correctly"

    Oh please, Kneesan aint' all that neither. I read a lot of forums on this blog about Kneesan's quilty. They don't even have their own Hybrid it's borrowed from Toyota. At least the Koreans are making their own hybrid.

  32. "Nothing Hooday, Kea build touches any Nissan."

    Touches any Nissan in design or quailty?

    You can't really say design because they took the orignal Murano design and creamed it. Chrylser and Subaru just copied. As for quaitly, I don't know, Nissan's quailty can't touch Honda or Toyota neither.

  33. "Mark my words, Hyundai and Kia will become Ford's worst nightmare." — I doubt it. I'm not so sure you'll be able to pry a pice of American iron (like the new Tarus) out of the hands of an all-American Ford fan. … Honda & Toyota on the other hand… " Japanese ministry of Industry: WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"

  34. " Brian said…

    Mark my words, Hyundai and Kia will become Ford's worst nightmare. This car is a masterpiece and I believe they have another half dozen or so new models coming out in the next year.

    October 17, 2009 5:51 AM"

    So does Ford.

    Since Ford is doing far better than any of the other American manufacturers, don't you mean GM or Chrysler???

  35. "Shevchenko said…
    Nothing Hooday, Kea build touches any Nissan. Names mispelled purposely, they are not even worth spelling correctly.

    October 17, 2009 2:05 PM"

    JD Power certainly doesn't think so.

    Nissan is trash, I would rather have any Hyundai or Kia over a Nissan and their problematic boring vehicles.

  36. Hyundai/Kia are already in Ford's dreams!
    HYUNDAI/KIA OVERTOOK FORD AS THE 4TH LARGEST AUTO MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD THIS YEAR!

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