Hyundai Kia Forums
08-24-2009, 01:18 PM
Filed under: Sedan (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/), Kia (http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/), Rumormill (http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/), South Korea (http://www.autoblog.com/category/south-korea/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/amantirear34_opt.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0907_kia_future_car_plans/index.html)
From its divisive baroque styling to its status as the court jester of the rental car circuit, the Kia Amanti has so far lived a less than charmed life. The Amanti's tough luck story could change in a big hurry, however, if a new story from Motor Trend is true. MT is reporting that the Amanti is will be going rear-wheel drive as soon as late 2011 on a smaller version of the Hyundai Genesis Sedan platform.
Since Kia is more value-oriented as a brand than Hyundai, most expect the new Amanti to be a few thousand dollars cheaper than the Genesis Sedan. The current Amanti has a lofty starting price of $26,045, but boatloads of incentives are needed to move them off dealer lots.
Motor Trend speculates that the 375-hp Tau V8 engine probably won't make its way under the hood of the next Amanti, with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and the 3.8-liter V6 being the more likely powertrains. We're thinking that a range of four- and six-cylinder engines would be sufficient, especially when considering tough new fuel economy laws scheduled for 2011 and beyond.
We do have one question, however. With such a radical rethink apparently in store and not having a great deal of brand equity tied up in the Amanti brand, wouldn't Kia be better off finding a new name? They haven't seemed too reluctant to change model names in recent years when bringing out new models, so perhaps they'll consider a change in designations.
Either way, with its hip and stylish Soul (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/10/review-2010-kia-soul/), the surprisingly competent Optima, along with the pretty new Forte (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/first-drive-2010-kia-forte-a-compelling-new-compact-sedan-optio/) and Koup models, Kia's lineup has gotten a radical overhaul for the better. If the next-gen Amanti is anywhere near as good as Hyundai's Genesis Sedan, the competition should keep a very close eye on boys from South Korea.
[Source: Motor Trend (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0907_kia_future_car_plans/index.html)]Rumormill: Kia Amanti making switch to Genesis RWD platform? (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Read (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0907_kia_future_car_plans/index.html) | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19094483/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/amantirear34_opt.jpg (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0907_kia_future_car_plans/index.html)
From its divisive baroque styling to its status as the court jester of the rental car circuit, the Kia Amanti has so far lived a less than charmed life. The Amanti's tough luck story could change in a big hurry, however, if a new story from Motor Trend is true. MT is reporting that the Amanti is will be going rear-wheel drive as soon as late 2011 on a smaller version of the Hyundai Genesis Sedan platform.
Since Kia is more value-oriented as a brand than Hyundai, most expect the new Amanti to be a few thousand dollars cheaper than the Genesis Sedan. The current Amanti has a lofty starting price of $26,045, but boatloads of incentives are needed to move them off dealer lots.
Motor Trend speculates that the 375-hp Tau V8 engine probably won't make its way under the hood of the next Amanti, with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and the 3.8-liter V6 being the more likely powertrains. We're thinking that a range of four- and six-cylinder engines would be sufficient, especially when considering tough new fuel economy laws scheduled for 2011 and beyond.
We do have one question, however. With such a radical rethink apparently in store and not having a great deal of brand equity tied up in the Amanti brand, wouldn't Kia be better off finding a new name? They haven't seemed too reluctant to change model names in recent years when bringing out new models, so perhaps they'll consider a change in designations.
Either way, with its hip and stylish Soul (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/10/review-2010-kia-soul/), the surprisingly competent Optima, along with the pretty new Forte (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/16/first-drive-2010-kia-forte-a-compelling-new-compact-sedan-optio/) and Koup models, Kia's lineup has gotten a radical overhaul for the better. If the next-gen Amanti is anywhere near as good as Hyundai's Genesis Sedan, the competition should keep a very close eye on boys from South Korea.
[Source: Motor Trend (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0907_kia_future_car_plans/index.html)]Rumormill: Kia Amanti making switch to Genesis RWD platform? (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/) originally appeared on Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com) on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).
Read (http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2009/112_0907_kia_future_car_plans/index.html) | Permalink (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/) | Email this (http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19094483/) | Comments (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/#comments)
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/10/kia-amanti-making-switch-to-genesis-rwd-platform/)