Birchwood Kia Blog

2011 Cadenza

Kia will replace its top-of-the-line Amanti model with a stylish new luxury sedan to be called Cadenza outside Korea. A near clone of the previously revealed KND-5 concept car, it’s rumoured to be based on the award-winning Hyundai Genesis’s rear-wheel-drive platform. Already revealed in Korea, where it is called the K7, the Cadenza will make its international debut at the Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Dubai auto shows, later this year. It is expected to arrive in North America in 2010 as a 2011 model.

The Cadenza name derives from an Italian musical term used to describe an elaborate, ornamental flourish for a concerto or aria. Kia says it symbolizes the dynamic sedan’s striking design philosophy and upscale image.

Technologies newly available on the Cadenza will include a heated steering wheel (for winter driving in cold markets), powered extendable seat cushions (for extra thigh support), automatic defogging of the windshield and ventilated front seats (for cool comfort in hot markets).

Soon-Nam Lee, director of Kia’s Overseas Marketing Group, says, “the new Cadenza will showcase the continuing evolution in Kia’s striking design language… and present a new concept in luxury sedans in terms of performance and technology.”