By Jordan Hood
Pictures of the new Kia Magentis have just been released and it’s almost unrecognisable from its predecessor. Featuring bold “four-door coupé” looks, the D-segment newcomer marks a further progression in the design revolution intiated by Peter Schreyer.
Schreyer, the man behind the original Audi TT, is one of only three automotive designers to be awarded with an Honorary Doctorate at the Royal College of Arts and has worked his magic for the South Korean firm since 2006 on models such as the Sorento, Soul and the upcoming new Sportage.
“This new model embodies Kia’s confident new design direction,” says Schreyer. “It’s a global car with individual appeal.”
Longer, lower and wider than the previous model, the new Magentis sports a significantly longer wheelbase and is claimed to “offer considerably more space for both people and luggage”. One could assume that the Magentis will share many of its underpinnings with its cousin, the (South African-bound) new Hyundai Sonata, which is 4 820 mm long, 1 835 mm wide and 1 470 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2 795 mm.
The Magentis shown in pre-launch pictures features a sharply-raked roofline, flared wheel arches, LED daytime running lights, front fender vents, and projector headlights.
The car, which will officially be unveiled at the New York Show in April, serves to promote a further design leap for Kia, as the brand continues to search for a balance between style and affordability. Let’s just hope that they’ve paid as much attention to on-road refinement and dynamic capabiltiy as they have to the bodywork…
Kia is yet to reveal any official details, but the most likely engine options will be a pair of petrol V6 units, a new 3,5-litre mill and the current 3,8-litre found in the Hyundai Genesis.
The new Magentis will go on sale in the US and non-European markets in the later part of 2010. European sales are expected to begin in the spring of 2011 with a hybrid model waiting patiently for a release date. The model has yet to be confirmed for local launch.