Currently reading: All change for new Kia Magentis
New York motor show launch in April for Kia's new saloon

These are the first official pictures of the all-new Kia Magentis, which will be launched at April’s New York motor show.

The new Magentis will go on sale later this year in the US and Korea, where it is known as the Optima, and European sales will follow early in 2011.

See the official Kia Magentis pics

Kia told Autocar that the car encompasses everything it wanted to achieve with its future design under its chief designer Peter Schreyer and all new Kias were likely to feature styling cues taken from the Magentis.

The Magentis is longer, wider and lower than the model it replaces and sits on a longer wheelbase than the outgoing car. This has significantly increased both cabin and luggage space.

Although initial details on the new Magentis are scarce, Autocar understands that it will feature Kia’s next generation of petrol and diesel engines. The big-seller should be the 2.0-litre diesel taken from the Sportage.

A 2.0-litre petrol engine will be the staple of the petrol range, although Kia could introduce smaller-capacity petrol engines, should there be sufficient demand.

Kia concedes that the Magentis is never likely to be a major seller in Europe, but believes the large saloon segment is one in which it must compete, as a volume manufacturer.

But the real demand for the car will come from the US and domestic markets, where its much improved styling and dynamics should hold appeal for buyers.

At present, the Magentis name is strongly expected to remain in Europe, although Kia is considering a numerical system for its future cars. It is introducing such a system in Korea.

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Zeddy 22 February 2010

Re: New Kia Magentis revealed

Chris576 wrote:
It would be nice if Peugeot could produce a car that drove as nicely as a 405, let alone Kia.

LOL

Chris576 22 February 2010

Re: New Kia Magentis revealed

It would be nice if Peugeot could produce a car that drove as nicely as a 405, let alone Kia.

There are plenty of pictures of the new Kia in disguised test prototype form around the internet, by the way. The actual roofline is nothing like as low as on these pictures.


The Hermit 22 February 2010

Re: New Kia Magentis revealed

If Kia can reallt produce a car that looks like that and drives nicely within the next 5 years, I would actually buy it.

OK, so by 'drives nicely' I mean as well as a 405. That doesn't mean I'm discounting KIA. In my opinion they and hyundai have come further than any other manufacturer in the last 5 years.