Kia Magentis poised for New York reveal
All-new mid-size sedan will make its world premiere in the Big Apple on April 2All the pre-release images over the past few weeks have been of vehicles set to debut at the upcoming Geneva motor show, but here's an exception to the rule.
Pictured alongside are the first renderings of Kia's all-new Magentis mid-size sedan, which makes its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show on Friday, April 2.
The Magentis is essentially Kia's version of the all-new Hyundai i45 (aka Sonata) that's due to be unveiled at Geneva, and the New York reveal for the former might be to ensure it doesn't tread on the toes of its Hyundai counterpart at the Swiss expo.
Renderings always portray a much chunkier and squatter vehicle than the eventual in-the-metal reality, but one can still glean elements of the bold new design language propagated by style-meister Peter Schreyer.
As per the Sonata-replacing i45, the Magentis has a pseudo-fastback roofline and a high waist, but its nose appears far more aggressive in execution.
"A fresh design from the ground up, Kia's all-new version of its popular mid-size saloon is completely transformed and embodies a bold, athletic and sporty visual energy," says the company in its PR blurb.
Longer, lower and wider than the previous model, the new Magentis also stretches across a significantly longer wheelbase, which, according to Kia, yields considerably more space for both people and luggage.
The Magentis will add depth to Kia's Australian line-up when it arrives here towards the end of this year, with propulsion coming from the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group's 2.4-litre direct-injection petrol four-cylinder engine -- touted as being more potent and frugal than its Toyota Camry archrival (watch video here).
The existing Magentis hasn't exactly been a runaway success for Kia, finding just 276 buyers in 2009 and 461 the year before that. Its best tally was in 2007, when it notched up 742 sales.
The new-gen Magentis appears a far more enticing proposition than the current model, and Kia now enjoys greater brand recognition, so the mid-sizer may well fare better this time around.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
