Kia Motors America has unveiled the all-new 2014 Cadenza premium sedan, and it is already being viewed as the most technologically advanced vehicle ever released by the fast growing South Korean automaker.
Kia made the announcement at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, signalling their intention to jump into the premium sedan segment.
The all new Kia Cadenza is a fantastic addition to the existing Kia lineup, but is also a sign that the company os more than ready to move up to premium, thanks in large part to the impressive list of standard equipment.
That includes Advanced Smart Cruise Control -ASCC, Blind Spot Detection -BSD system and Lane-Departure Warning System -LDWS.
There has been no price point set yet, with that announcement expected to come closer to the 2014 Cadenza release date, which is expected to be in the second quarter of 2013.
Kia Cadenza design
Kia’s global chief of design, Peter Schreyer, once again has his fingerprints all over the striking design of the Cadenza. The vehicle features broad shoulders, a contoured hood, and large wheels that widen its stance while keeping it grounded.
The overall effect is a sport-sedan finish that will see it fit comfortably onto the highway, as well as mountain roads.
The “Tiger Nose” front fascia makes it instantly recognizable as a Kia car. Quad headlights flank the front grille, nestling in snugly behind crystalline lenses.
The stance of the vehicle is made all the more imposing by the wide lower fascia, while the chrome accents that skirt the grille and fog lights give the car a touch of class and luxury.
The addition of LED positioning lights and HID headlights give the Cadenza a strictly European elegance.
Seen in profile, the Cadenza looks equal parts strong and sophisticated, with the vertical nose adding a touch of menace. The long hood has been beautifully sculpted to reach back and meet the swept-back windshield.
The greenhouse is surrounded by a chrome bezel as it curves around to the C-pillar, creating a beautiful glass droplet.
An upward sweeping chiseled indentation runs from just behind the front-door cutline all the way to the taillights in a seamless transition.
Chrome accents can also be found in the lower parts of the doors, as well as in the rear fascia. Opting for the Technology Package means adding 19-inch alloy wheels that have a definite resemblance to a jet turbine.
Around back, the Cadenza comes with standard LED taillights that have been designed and positioned so that they cove a large portion of the vehicle.
This helps broaden the stance of the car, whereas the twin oval tail pipes are in place to show off the sporty elegance of the Cadenza.
Premium look inside the new Cadenza
The elegance continues to the interior of the vehicle, as leather upholstery and accents of wood and chrome deliver a comfortable, inviting cabin space.
The use of ambient lighting and a horizontally positioned switch gear give the driver an uncluttered space.
Amid all the technology is an analog place that is classis, yet very much at home in the sophisticated center stack.
The center console is slightly angled towards the driver so that it can be easily controlled, while the 7-inch LCD screen displays all manner of important vehicle information.
All of the standard controls such as HVAC, audio, and air vents, are surrounded by elegant chrome bezels.
Wood trim accents can be found on the door inserts, whilst standard features such as one-touch automatic up/down power front windows and power-folding heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators add to the premium image conveyed by the all-new Kia Cadenza 2014 (Model Year).
ok why no LED DRL??? why have such a large led as a ‘positioning’ light only? i dont get it. what about the leds under the headlights, is that for turn signal? DRL is the only thing thats missing. also this american version has way too much chrome. otherwise the car is perfect.
so 18″ chrome wheel is std unless u get tech option which gets u that turbine allowy 19″ wheels? chrome everywhere, looks ghetto like optima SXL. uhhh
Dam that is one amazing put together car………I’m not an out and out fan of Hyundai or Kia, but attracted to car makers that ooze style and amazing design and “nobody” does this other then Kia and Hyundai. They are relentless in obsession to make there cars stand out from the pack and one does not need to be 4ft across forehead to see this! They will be number 1 carmaker worldwide within 4 yrs I estimate!
I truly feel Kia missed the boat here in America to get this vehicle here. I mean really once they put the old Amanti to bed this was the PERFECT car to slot right in while the design was FRESH. I can understand getting the Optima out first and established. That only needed take 6 months the Optima sells itself a car like the Cadenza you have to push and prod a little because of the price point and skeptiscism. But to delay it SOOO long like this????? Really??????
I want the GT here for Christmas so I can finally get my coveted 2 door vehicle. I am not ready to get rid of my Sable now since my wife don’t want to upgrade her 2008 Optima.
this car will not be updated in 2 years, slow sellers dont get updated often like midsize sedans. so we’re prolly looking at 7 years for this guy. maybe they’ll do sooner but i doubtit. i’d say this will last for at least 3 years then all new will come out. this is a super solid car along with azera btw. i wouldn’t call it old. the body style is not old , it’s pretty much all new. look at refreshed sorento, 75% new car.
K8 will be out. meaning A7 like from kia, this also coincides with HCD14 concept, hdai will come out with 4dr coupe slotted between gen coupe and gen sedan. because new gen sedan will prolly start at 40k and need something in between. hence this popular design, 4dr coupe. same with k8, k9 has been slow to sell. it is way expensive , they priced it so wrong in korea. in usa it’ll be like 40-50k. perfect. can’t wait for h/kia 4dr coupe. hope it’ll be awd. now when is kia going to get 2dr sportscar and possible 2dr roadster like TT?? call it KK??? haha
The Optima has gone unchanged for 3 model years now. Cadenza will probably go 4.
if i’m correct, following the pattern over the years, hot sellers are updated every 5 years, otherwise 7. so sonata, optima, elantra etc were updated every 5 years, refresh came every 3 years, so 2014 we’ll see refreshed sonata and optima, followed by all new model in 2015 as 2016 model. sorento, santa fe, tucson, azera, etc. were updated every 7 years, and the refresh will come every 4 years for those cars. makes sense. still far better than what other companies are doing, they hardly update anything, look at camry, 6 years old car inside out. same inefficient engine, etc.
Not a badly designed car. THe back is too much of an Audi in my opinion. THe grill could be a bit streamlined. Too much of non-meaningful curves. THe grill could be a bit thinner and more parallel to top and bottom lines that is. The Name of the car is named after a musical composition the Cadenza. Most of the proletariat will not be familiar to an elegant name like the Cadenza. Calling it the the Kia Rome/Venice or Kia Paris even the KIa Madison will improve the familiarity of the vehicle.
The front grille is a tad of a disappointment but overall I think this would be a good car from Kia. Comfortable automobile.
Remember to market this nice product.
Psychological indoctrinarion, behaviorism, neuro linguistics and presentation are going to be your keys to selling kias
Yeah you are probably the guy who disagrees with Kia’s marketing of the Soul. You know, the hamsters that are now pop culture icons? Yeah, I’m sure Kia did that all wrong in your opinion, right? Just like they shouldn’t have named it Soul. They probably should have named it Connor or Moscow. Am I right? Apparently naming cars after cities or people is a good idea.
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I think Hyundai and Kia have a pretty good grasp on how to do what they are doing, or they wouldn’t be at or above their production capacity at every factory they have around the world, with increased market share every year for well over 10 years. And that’s with names like “Spectra”, “XG350”, and “Accent”.
“Yeah you are probably the guy who disagrees with Kia’s marketing of the Soul. You know, the hamsters that are now pop culture icons? Yeah, I’m sure Kia did that all wrong in your opinion, right? Just like they shouldn’t have named it Soul. ”
If you are not certain with your accusations about my own opinions then please be more discerning or dilligent with what you are accusing me of. I have supported Kia in their marketing efforts in many areas. The name of car, the Soul, is a nice name. I also think Hamsters is a nice marketing icon for people to see Kia in a different light. Animals, cute pets, are always a great way to sell a prodcut. Most marketers already know this.
“They probably should have named it Connor or Moscow. Am I right? Apparently naming cars after cities or people is a good idea.”
Now you are just being Snarky. Of course naming strategies are important. The Cadenza in a foreign name to most of the common folk. I do think that you just want to argue for the sake of arguing, and not for the goal of moving Kia’s marketing strategy forward. Names after famous cities, states, or common icons that evoke vivid images or concepts in peoples’ minds are very key in selling a prodct.
It is unfortunate that you have very little knowledge in intuition to understanding what makes people buy products or start grass root political campaigns. If you don’t have much kowledge of the history of how brands were created, how people identify with a brand that either is like a tribal association or psychological commitment to a name that represents quality, or reliability.
Because the truth remains, most people are not car experts like you. The masses ultimately go with their gut and hearsay about what brand represents quality, prestige, or heritage.
“I think Hyundai and Kia have a pretty good grasp on how to do what they are doing, or they wouldn’t be at or above their production capacity at every factory they have around the world, with increased market share every year for well over 10 years. And that’s with names like “Spectra”, “XG350″, and “Accent”.
I disagree. They had serious momementum in 2010 because people started to trust the Hyundai and Kia brand. Kia’s marketing was making major coups into the marketplace with spot on Superbowl commecials.