2010 Kia VG spy shots
Kia’s near luxury sedan, codenamed VG, has caught the lens of photographers while undergoing some endurance testing in the heart of Death Valley, California and these latest spy shots reveal some nice design cues at front and rear fascias of the upcoming Kia sedan.
Front of the car sports a large “tiger-nose” grille and elongated projector front lamps, while side profile promises to have a sporty look with strong side character line. This particular prototype still wears heavy camouflage, but you can clearly see some stylish (similar to Jaguar XK) LED tail lights and dual chrome exhaust pipes that nicely integrate into the bumper at the rear.
For some of our new readers that might not have seen our previous spy report, the VG sedan is an all-new near luxury Kia model, similar to Toyota Avalon or Hyundai Azera. It is based on the new FWD platform that will also be used by Hyundai Motor Company for its next generation Azera.
The upcoming Kia VG sedan will be positioned between mid-sized Optima and Amanti sedans and is not expected to replace any of existing Kia models in the range. Some sources state that VG sedan has been developed to succeed the slow-selling Amanti flagship, but future Kia product plan, that leaked to public not so long ago, reveals Kia is developing even larger model to replace its flagship (Amanti) model.
Since the VG sedan is still about a year away, Kia has not yet released any powertrain details, but we can speculate VG to have a range of engines borrowed from Hyundai Azera and Genesis RWD sedan. Expect to see the second generation 2,4L Theta as an entry-level engine option and a pair of V6 engines, ranging from 3,3L to 3,8L, under the hood. It’s sales is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2009.
Check out the latest spy shots of the 2010 Kia VG!
Click image to enlarge!
Fellows at Autoblog, Worldcarfans, Thecarconnection and Jalopink have posted some cool spy photos last week showing the VG from all different angles. Make sure you check them out and read their reports to learn more about this exciting Kia product.
2010 Kia VG
August 12th, 2008 at 4:28 am
Hyundai has the Azera and I hardly see them around. Is this sedan really that importnat? It’s a very nice look’in sedan (at least the part I see). This is the first Kia to have the window brake light not above the truck but have it like a the German sporty car manufactorers. P.S. Whoever sketched the VG on the first VG blog it looks nothing like that. They were fooled by the why the cover is designed. It DOES have the new face like Forte and Optima not the Genesis’ face.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Opps I mean trunk.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Put in a good diesel engine, and bring it to Europe as well!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Even with all the camoflauge on this car, it is starting to turn out to be quite a looker!. And look at those kick arse dual exhausts!!!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:13 am
im still not convinced its the VG cos of the wheels and the door cut lines, etc. and i think its the CH but man this car is turning out nicely!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I agree with all of you, it looks stunning already although it has the camo all over it.
Patrick, we might be wrong and at the end it could indeed turn out to be an Amanti successor.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Himi, Patrick is 100% right. This is not an Azera. Hyundai has another luxury sedan called the VI. The VI is expected to have a 4.6L and 5.0L V8 engines. I’m assuming the VG is sharing this platform.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Sweet. It looks bigger than the Amanti. I think that VG will probably be Sporty Amanti, and CH luxury Amanti.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
would kia really want to stretch that much upmarket?? i think this will be the BH’s brother/sister but without the V8. they’d compensate for the lack of V8s by making it more fun to drive than the Genesis and maybe lighter… hopefully. oh and this is probably a replacement for the Amanti… at least i hope it is…
but who cars about what i just wrote cos what do i know???
August 15th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Well, you were right, the VG is an Amanti/Opirus replacement. I’ll let you know more about that tomorrow (now, I go to bed, its 1 AM here)… Cheers!;)
August 17th, 2008 at 5:19 am
It looks like a direct Pontiac G8 Rival. This segment from Kia is sorta hard for me to understand between the BH and VG. I mean most articles say it’s a Azera base car some are saying Genesis. Some are even saying it’s the Amanti while others are not. I’m just going to wait until its manufactorer release details. I HATE rumors. And I’m not quite understanding the Amanti replacement. The Amanti is an E segment sedan right. what letter segment sedan is this VG supposed to be E or F? That Amanti replacement is just confusing on account no one really knows if this is two or one segment above the Optima. It’s obvious it’s replacing the Amanti no matter if this is VG or BH but what segment is the VG and BH (which one is above which one). That’s what I want to know.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:06 pm
JTZ… not only are you extremely horribe in the grammer department but your comments don’t even make sense. Azera’s are everywhere… Have you been to NY recently… apparently not.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I don’t live in NY I live in Ohio and Azera’s are rare there. As well as the Veracruz. So I know what I’m talking about while your putting your entire name on the net. And I have been in New York and it’s always bumper to bumper traffic. Your better off walking then wasting gas going no where. And I bet most of those Azera’s are taxis. My grammer can’t be too bad your responded to my reply.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
George Smith, not everyone who lives in the States live in New York didn’t you know that?!
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:29 am
Hell, I have never even seen an Azera in real life. Only pictures. Same with Veracruz, Genesis, Entourage, Accent, and Tuscon. Which is pretty sad considering I see TONS of Kias, and the Hyundai dealership is closer than the Kia dealership. Maybe this car is the CH (Amanti replacement) and the VG will be Optima replacement in a few years. The main frame/design structure has been used on the Optima only for three years, while the Amanti’s frame/design structure has been the same since 2004 with only a single face lift. What this is is CH and VG will come in about two years, when Optima’s cycle is over. Here is what we will see during 2009 (2010 models-projected) Borrego:no change, just debuted; Sedona: Mid-cycle refresh; Sorento: New frame/design structure released; Sportage: no change; Rondo: Mid-cycle refresh; Amanti: CH design comes out; Optima: no change; Spectra: Forte design newly released; Soul: no change; Rio/Rio5: Mid-cycle refresh. Here is what we will see during 2010 (2011 models-projected) Borrego: no change; Sedona: no change; Sorento: no change; Sportage: New frame/design structure released; Rondo: no change; Amanti: no change; Optima: no change; Spectra: no change; Soul: no change; Rio/Rio5: no change. Spy shots we will see in 2010: VG which we will see as new Optima in 2011 as 2012 model; face lift Borrego; new Sedona which will be released in 2011 as 2012 model; Spectra face lift; Soul face lift; new Rio/Rio5 which will be released in 2011 as a 2012 model. THIS IS HAPPENING FOR REAL: Kia is developing a compact pick-up truck under the code name XN, based on 2010 Sorento platform and design. XN will feature Kia’s 2.2L clean diesel as standard engine. Other engines may or may not be available depending on market. A mid-sized pickup (HN) with design based on face-lifted Borrego and the Borrego’s BOF platform may or may not be released in 2012. If it was released, Kia stated that it would come with the new 3.0L clean diesel standard, and may include 4.6L V8 as an Option. We will see what happens. For now Kia says this, “Right now, the compact pick-up market is dominated by over priced domestic vehicles, and reasonably priced foreign vehicles with bogus options and standard features. What we would do is create a reasonable priced pick-up that would come with loads of standard features with a fuel efficient engine that would dominate the market.”
November 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
You hardly see Azeras too huh Greg? That’s a lot of information. With the Fuel Cell Borrego I wouldn’t be surprised about a bof Pick Up off that platform. P.S. How’s my grammer Greg? Can you understand me?
November 28th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I just thought of something. If you’re right about a compact pick up (I still think it’s risky though) then maybe a concept version will be at the NAIAS. Maybe? P.S. If you want to see a Azera in person go to New York.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:30 am
You have fine grammar. I have never been to New York, nor do I plan too. I don’t like all the rude snobs that live there. Actually, I have heard that most of the North East is full of rude discourteous drivers!