Carscoop Reader Spots New Kia Cadenza Filling up in California

It's been a little over a year since Kia lifted the wraps off its stylish replacement for the Amanti, called the K7 in South Korea and Cadenza in other countries, but we're still waiting for the firm's flagship sedan to show up in the USA. However if these (fuzzy) photos are anything to go by, Kia may be getting ready to launch the Cadenza onto the U.S. market.

The silver-colored mid-size sedan was scooped by Carscoop reader Nick K., who you might remember from the first ever Prius MPV spy shots we posted last September, while filling up at a gas station in California.

"The other day I was sitting at a restaurant in Corona Del Mar, California and spotted a Kia Cadenza (K7). Here are the VERY zoomed in pictures I took with my phone," Nick told Carscoop.

The Cadenza, which sits above the Optima in Kia's range, is available in its home country with a choice of three gasoline engines ranging in output from 165HP for the four-cylinder model to 295HP for the 3.5 liter V6. All variants feature front-wheel drive and a new six-speed automatic transmission.

Kudos to Nick K. for the Kia spotting!

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Facelifted 2010 Kia Opirus Premium Debuts in Korea

Can't say that we were ever fans of the Kia Amanti's (Opirus in Korea and other markets) wannabe Jaguar S-Type looks, and this latest facelift that comes three years after the latest update in 2006 and six years after the introduction of the car in 2003, won't make us change our mind. Revealed in Korea today, the updated Amanti / Opirus boasts a subtly refreshed exterior with a new Buick-like waterfall grille, redesigned front and rear bumper plus new LED tail lights and mirror turn signals. The restyled 18-inch alloy wheels and extra chrome bits and pieces here and there complete the exterior changes.

Inside, the 2010 Opirus Premium as it's officially called in Korea, gains new trim options and colors as well as a new 3.5-inch color TFT-LCD infoscreen on the dashboard.

All available engines on the Opirus have been revised and now come equipped with a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The base 2.7-liter V6 produces 195HP (a 1.6% improvement), the 3.3-liter V6 259HP (+4.9%) while the range-topping 3.8-liter V6 delivers 284HP (+6.8%).

It remains to be seen if Kia will perform the same changes on the U.S. specification Amanti sedan.

Via: Thecarblogger , Photos: Rpm9