Hyundai has been stepping up its game lately with new cars like the Genesis sedan and coupe, but the Korean automaker won’t be leaving behind its Kia value brand. Spy photographers have spotted an all-new Kia near-luxury sedan, referred to at this point as the VG. Despite the VG moniker, the new sedan will replace the current Amanti, although it doesn’t look like the production car will wear that nameplate.
Riding on Hyundai/Kia’s new “NF” chassis, this Amanti replacement will be both wider and longer than the current Amanti. We’ve also been told that it will be a much more performance-oriented sedan this time around. Powering this new sporty sedan will be Hyundai’s lambda 3.8L V6 mated to a 6 speed transmission. Expect horsepower ratings in the neighborhood of 280.
It remains unclear exactly what price point the VG will hit, but by the looks of the Chevrolet Malibu in the background, Kia might be eyeing the coveted, yet crowded, volume mid-size sedan segment.
We’re expecting the VG to make its official debut in August of 2009, with sales starting shortly afterwards.
08/27, 11:15 AM
posted by:
rds130
Must….fight….urge….to….like…what….I’m……….seeing….NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! The Koreans have taken over my brain and are slowly obliterating any stereotypes I may still think of them being horribly made, horribly reliable, knock-offs of other manufacturers!!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously though, even with the camo, the shapes on this are really looking good. Good for Kia and subsequently, Hyundai.
08/27, 11:24 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I agree, this is looking nice, if also very conservative and somewhat standard. The overall shape is decent and the headlights and tailights dont appear to have that ridiculous blistering extrusion look that Toyota and Honda designers seem so strangely fond of. The body thankfully also doesn’t have that needlessly overdone curvatures and ripples crap. Kia’s looking good, and the Kia Soul is also nice.
08/27, 11:36 AM
posted by:
elviososa
look a lot like Lexus ES
08/27, 11:42 AM
posted by:
ktulu
duz “VG” stand 4 “very good?”
Hyundai is better than people think, as is Kia.
If this car is competing w/ the Malibu & its ilk, it will clean up!
The Koreans R hobliterating any stereotypes a lot o’ people still thave
08/27, 11:49 AM
posted by:
tastyorange
wow… it’s so different and distinctive… just like most Asian vehicles.
It looks like nothing else out there.
08/27, 12:11 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I love the current Amanti. To me it has more character than any other clone Kiundai produces. Sure it’s slow, handles like a dumptruck and looks like some bastard prototype for a 1979 Cressida, but that’s what makes it so unique. If they could only find a way to keep me permanently sedated, I’d probably buy one.
08/27, 12:31 PM
posted by:
mazdaman
I hate to admit this because I’m not a big fan of Kia (or Hyundai for that matter), but it looks like Kia might actually have some future products that will help them finally make a serious impact in the U.S. market. The upcoming Forte, Sorento, and VG sedan all appear to be attractive looking future products. They are not exactly ground breaking designs for the market, but they are well executed designs for Kia (which is a nice change from the dated and bland looking stuff that they have produced in the past). The only minor thing I would change is to enlarge the Kia badge in the middle of the grille. For some reason, it looks too small relative to the size of the grille and the overall car. It looks as though Kia will finally have a large sedan that they can be proud of; they need to enlarge that badge and let the world know it belongs to them.
08/27, 12:36 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
look a lot like Lexus ES
Agreed It looks like the last gen ES330 That back window is a blatant copy and the Headlights are tapd to disguise the design but that ends up making it look like the ES even more Which was probably their paln the whole time
Either way its already nicer than a Malibu. Hyundai and kia are well on their way to passing the domestics In some aspects they already have
This along with the Boreggo, the new Sorento the Optima and the Forte kia is on a role
Hyundai needs to make their next batch of models looks good and edgy
08/27, 12:50 PM
posted by:
JoshyLofty
Notice the Avalon driving closely behind the two VGs. Now you know what their target vehicle is…..
08/27, 1:18 PM
posted by:
drchiem
What a Lexus ES rip offfff.
08/27, 1:46 PM
posted by:
megeebee
QUICK !!! PUT THE CAMO BACK ON !!! Just what the world needs. another discount-version of a Lex-MW.
08/27, 2:15 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Calling this a “Lexus rip-off” is to falsely assume that Lexus has any design originality at all.
08/27, 2:22 PM
posted by:
ryanpstr
I hate to make comparisons with car designs of other manufacturers but the VG does have some resemblance to a Lexus.. It’s not entirely a bad thing tho since it has agreeable lines.. It would be impossible tho for any car company to have to create very distinct lines and shape for a car, chances are there will be similarities.. (try drawing a “new” car on a blank sheet of paper, you’ll notice that the lines you like will be what you’ll draw).. WIth that said tho, Acura and Honda are tryin hard to have their own unique image (with their new lineup) but by doing so, they create grilles, headlights, and lines that don’t particularly capture the general public’s taste.. and this could have huge implications to their sales because people judge a book by its cover..
08/27, 2:43 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
the grille resembles a bottle opener
08/27, 3:04 PM
posted by:
t-ak-box
I kinda see a cross between the Jag XF & Lexus IS and something different in the rear.
So far it looks much better than the previous model. Good job Kia.
08/27, 5:38 PM
posted by:
rv65
This car won’t actually replace the Amanti. The real amanti successor will be built on the Genesis platform. So Kia will be getting it’s version of the genesis.
08/27, 6:06 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
It looks exactly like a slightly larger proportioned Lexus IS and ES. While I think I may very well be wrong, and the similarities will separate themselves after the camo is taken off, it looks good.
08/27, 7:32 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
To me, it looks like a cross between the Lexus ES and Honda Accord, handsome yet sporty, and should slot right between them in price and performance. In other words, it looks pretty much like the new Acura TL SHOULD have looked!
08/27, 7:37 PM
posted by:
Chris_Doane
“This car won’t actually replace the Amanti. The real amanti successor will be built on the Genesis platform. So Kia will be getting it’s version of the genesis”
Actually that is no longer accurate. Kia was going to get a RWD sedan based on the Genesis chassis. That vehicle has now be canned.
This FWD sedan is now what we’ll get.
08/28, 12:06 AM
posted by:
bigp
sport car at 280 and 4000lbs
11/25, 10:36 AM
posted by:
Sal Collaziano
I recently drove an Amanti as a rental car and was VERY surprised! I timed 0-60 in 6.1 seconds after noticing how much “get up and go” it had. It’s quick - even at 80moh, it’ll push you back in your seat. For a midsize car, it’s very comfortable as well.. And believe it or not, it turned a lot of heads.. I’m anxious to see what the replacement will be like…
Sal C.
http://genesisowners.com