Kia Replacing Amanti with Cadenza

It’s the end of the Kia Amanti as we know it. Production of Kia’s largest sedan has officially ended, but that doesn’t mean there’s no future in large Kia sedans. Up next is the new Kia Cadenza, much prettier than the car it’s replacing, due to be released in the States sometime in the next twelve months or so.

The large sedan is generally intended to appeal to folks with a desire for luxury, but Kia has always prided itself on offering quality vehicles for more reasonable prices. That was the plan for the Amanti, but due to some criticism about the look and feel of the vehicle, the Korean car company felt inclined to innovate a little, with what appears to be very solid results.

Named after an Italian musical term that describes a lovely yet elaborate flourish of notes, the Cadenza is an attractive automobile. The crease running along the sides of the vehicle are a nice touch, as are the redesigned grill and depressed hood edges. This car looks like luxury all over, and Kia fans are already buzzing about the company’s new line.

It is a slightly shorter vehicle than the Amanti, however, but it boasts a wider wheel base that translates to more interior space. The Korean version of the car, to be released in 2010, features a 3.5-liter V6 engine, but it’s also possible it could pack a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder under the hood instead. No matter what engine option a buyer chooses, the vehicle will include a six-speed automatic transmission and power outputs somewhere in the 162 to 286 horsepower range.

If you’re in Waukegan, Kia Amanti options will still be available. In Round Lake, used cars always are in hot demand, so if you’re a fan of the old large Kia sedan, fret not. They’re still out there if you’re willing to look for them.

Waukegan new car enthusiasts will have to wait a little over a year to get their hands on the new Cadenza, which means that in the meantime the largest new sedan Kia can offer is the mid-sized Optima. That only happens when the current stock of Amantis runs dry, and as the Cadenza just recently made its auto show debut in Saudi Arabia, there will plenty for us to chew on in the meantime.

Change is coming, and while that might not always be a good thing, it certainly is in this case.