Kia has released new images of its KND-5 concept car, which previews the forthcoming VG near-luxury sedan. Kia will use the upcoming Seoul International Motor Show in April to show the car to the public and press. A concept in name only, the car is expected to enter production in September. Korean sales will begin as soon the VG starts rolling down the assembly line, but North American availability won’t begin until spring 2010. VG will be Kia’s first near-luxury sedan and complete the automaker’s passenger car lineup Optima and Amanti. Developed under code name KND-5, the luxury sedan has been spied by our photographers on numerous occasions. The car rides on the same front-wheel-drive platform as the Hyundai Azera, known as the “NF” chassis. Powering this new sporty sedan will be Hyundai’s Theta four-cylinder mill, or the company’s Lambda 3.5-liter V6 mated to a six-speed transmission. Despite what has been suggested by some media reports, the VG is not necessarily a replacement to the aging Amanti flagship sedan. Rather, a larger model code-named “CH” will serve as a successor. It remains unclear exactly what price point the VG will hit, but Kia is likely eyeing the coveted, yet crowded, volume mid-size sedan segment. However, it will be priced somewhere below the Amanti. The front of the car sports Kia’s family-look radiator grille which is “based on a symbolic representation of a tiger’s roaring countenance,” the company says. The 20-inch large-diameter alloy wheels enhance the stance further. The KND-5 measures 4,945mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,475mm high with a wheelbase of 2,845mm. The concept car is outfitted with a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine. Hyoung-Keun Lee, Senior Executive Vice President & COO, International Business Division, said, “The aggressive and sophisticated KND-5 exemplifies Kia’s futuristic design and values. As a concept car that presents the new direction of luxury sedan design, KND-5 will likely generate a lot of buzz at the Seoul Motor Show.”
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