Kia K7/Cadenza
Kia offered us a look at some future product today, hinting at and even showing us some of the new and updated vehicles it has in the works. Below is a detailed look at the Korean automaker’s next few years.
Kia Cadenza Still Forthcoming, New Forte Soon
We took a Korean-market Kia K7, also known as the Cadenza, for the world’s shortest test drive. The K7/Cadenza is a large front-drive sedan that sits above the Optima in the lineup; the one we drove was powered by a 3.3-liter direct-injection V-6 making 300 hp, which felt more than adequate. (Interestingly, Kia officials told us that the Optima’s original plans called for this 3.3-liter V-6, but it instead got the turbocharged 2.0-liter four as its optional engine.) We have a strong feeling the Cadenza will show up in the States in the not-too-distant future, alongside the next-gen Hyundai Azera with which it shares its underpinnings.
A new Forte is on its way, too. Yes, already. The Forte was introduced in the U.S. for 2010, but launched in the domestic market in 2009. We weren’t given exact timing, but expect it to come soon, since it will share its platform with the recently redesigned Hyundai Elantra. The Forte will once again be offered in four-door sedan, five-door hatch, and two-door (Koup) variants. Expect Hyundai/Kia’s direct-injected 1.6-liter four as the base engine, with an updated, variable-valve-lift version of the conglomerate’s 170-hp, 2.0-liter four a possibility for the sporty SX trim. The next-gen Forte is lower, wider, and has a longer wheelbase, with chunkier styling that’s more in line with that of the brand’s current lineup. The 2012 Rio gives the best idea of the styling direction.
2012 Kia Rio5
Sorento Face Lift, Large RWD Sedan
We were also given a preview of a face lift for the Sorento, Kia’s three-row crossover. The sheetmetal stays the same, with only the front fascia, rear bumper, and lighting elements getting massaged. The headlights can be best described as Saab 9-7X–esque, while the taillights resemble those on the Optima, reaching from the fender onto the hatch. The fog lights get turned vertical, as well. The face-lifted Sorento goes into production next summer, likely going on sale as a 2013 model.
And above that, Kia plans a rear-wheel-drive flagship sedan. Odds are it will use the Hyundai Genesis sedan’s platform and similarly offer V-6 and V-8 engines paired with the group’s in-house-designed eight-speed automatic. It will be launched in Kia’s home market in May of next year, making it here within 24 months after that.
2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Rear-Drive Concept Headed to Frankfurt, EV Plans, and a Minivan
Continuing on the rear-drive front, Kia confirmed the rumors that it will show a sporty coupe concept at the Frankfurt auto show next month. We were told the concept is intended solely to gauge reaction at this point, and that a decision to produce such a vehicle hasn’t yet been made. We were also told that the RWD coupe would target the BMW 3-series. This sounds like a lofty ambition, considering that the Genesis coupe that likely would form its basis doesn’t keep up with the Chevy Camaro, let alone the 10Best-winning Ford Mustang. The Genesis coupe is scheduled to get chassis and powertrain improvements for 2013, though, all or most of which would make their way into a RWD Kia counterpart.
Kia is also planning to get into the electric-vehicle game. It plans to sell an EV model in Korea beginning next year, with a crossover-based electric coming in 2014 for global markets. We have to believe the U.S. will be one of those markets.
Oh, and a replacement for the Sedona minivan is on the way, eventually. There were some hints dropped that it will resemble the KV7 concept, which debuted at this year’s Detroit show. The wagon/crossover look would fit better with Kia’s current design language than would a traditional minivan shape. The concept’s gullwing doors are almost certainly out, though.
2012 Hyundai Veloster
Adding Speeds to the Dual-Clutch, and Ruling Out a Pickup or Roadster
Hyundai/Kia is working on a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission for front-wheel-drive applications. The Hyundai Veloster will be the first to use the company’s six-speed dual-clutch.
We also got a preview of a new touch-screen infotainment system that Kia is developing in-house. The interface reminded us a lot of Apple’s iOS, as it borrows some of its multitouch gestures (swipe, pinch) and uses a similar home-screen layout, while the status view is a good clone of the Mac OS’s new Mission Control feature, providing audio, climate, and phone info at a glance. There’s even an app store. This is likely the next evolution of Uvo, this time including navigation; the two are currently (and curiously) mutually exclusive options on Kias.
On to the “no” column: Kia Motors America’s marketing and communications chief, Michael Sprague, communicated an emphatic negatory to the prospect of Kia going after the pickup-truck market. He said that the U.S. domestics have that segment figured out and that Kia will instead focus on areas where it has already shown expertise. We’re also told to forget the rumors that Kia is working on a small rear-wheel-drive roadster, à la Mazda Miata. It’s not happening, at least any time soon. Even without these two cars, it’s clear that Kia engineers will have plenty of other projects to keep them busy.
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