Kia has next generation Amanti sedan in the works. Expected to be built on the RWD platform and hit the market in 2011!
According to latest news at Motor Trend website, Kia is going to switch the platform of its next generation Amanti flagship from front-wheel-drive to rear wheel drive! The replacement for Amanti sedan, which will sit on the Genesis’ platform, is not expected to reach the US shores before 2010.
Motor Trend expects new Amanti to be slightly smaller in size compared to Hyundai Genesis sedan and will also miss the V8 power. Instead, Kia is likely going to use an updated 3.8L Lambda V6. Motor Trend also states Kia will also use a 2.0L turbo engine in the 2011 Amanti, which is, in my opinion very unlikely.
The 2.0L four-cylinder engines are not appropriate for large sized cars. Not only they lack the power and torque, but also the refinement of V6s and V8s. Have you ever seen a Bimmer 7-series with 2.0L four banger?… Well, I thought so. It is possible, however that we are going to see some engine downsizing. As you know automakers have been replacing large V8 engines with smaller V6 turbo engines or even smaller engines with bi-turbo technology.
As far as I know, Kia and Hyundai have developed a range of highly advanced GDI – gasoline direct injection engines with displacements from 1.6L to 2.4L and the 2.4L four-cylinder engine is the sole four-banger that is appropriate for next Amanti (IMHO).
Next generation Amanti is expected to hit the market in 2011 and will for sure be one of the highlights in Kias vehicle line-up. As every latest Kia model, the new Amanti will sport a very dynamic and sophisticated exterior look, while its new rear-wheel-drive platform should provide sporty and agile handling characteristics.
Before we see the next generation Amanti at the dealers, Kia has plans to bring a plethora of new models to the market. There is an all-new Optima sedan in the works, scheduled for summer of 2010. The all-new Optima sedan will share its platform with next Hyundai Sonata and will also be available with a hybrid powertrain from late 2011.
There’s also a VG sedan scheduled to make its official South Korean premiere sometime by the end of the year and we should not forget to mention the all-new Sorento crossover. Sorento is coming to the US market early next year and will be the first Kia model to be built at its first US manufacturing plant. The plant is expected to begin operating by the end of November.
During the summer (of this year), Kia will introduce the exciting Forte Koup, a two door variant of the Forte compact sedan which has gone on sale in the US market last month. Kia Forte Koup will be available with a 2.0L and 2.4L four-cylinder engines and will host a plethora of standard features, including a complete safety equipment. [Source: Motor Trend]
July 9th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
So, a genesis fighter for the next Kia?
July 9th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I agree a 2.0L is more suitable for the Forte series not the Amanti. I’m glad the CH has been given the greenlight. I know it’s going to look really good.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
@himi
Thank you for the info, but you should not exclude the viewpoint of the european market in your interpretations. Here we already have smaller, more efficent engines and I believe this trend will make it’s way to the US in the near future. Well, north american idiologies will still be waaay behind in that regard. [no offence, I love V8 power]
Some examples of big cars with strong, but small engines are:
- Subaru Impreza 2.4L 300Hp
- Mazda Cx-7 2.3L 260Hp
- Volvo XC90 185Hp [despite the weight the engine is still ok. it's a diesel and NM is what you need, not max HP]
- Audi Q5 2.0L 170Hp [diesel with under 6L/100km - for a SUV]
- Bmw 520d 180Hp with 5L/100km
- Mercedes offers a 2.0L 205Hp engine and so on…
I think this trend will continue, so I’d expect the new 2.4L engine in the new Amanti.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
VG = 2011 Optima – expected 34 MPG highway from 182 HP 2.4L engine
VG = 2011 Optima hybrid – expected 46 MPG highway, 161 HP 2.0L engine + electric engine.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:13 am
Greg you are correct as Hyundai Sonata/KIA Optima is expected to battle with the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Hybrids. That sounds pretty right to me.
July 10th, 2009 at 4:14 am
I am about sick of ford parading around that a$$-ugly fusion hybrid as the most fuel efficient midsize in America. I want Kia to just smash their 46MPG Optima right into ford’s face. ford deserves nothing, I won’t even capitalize ford!
July 10th, 2009 at 4:33 am
The next generation Amanti will have three engine options. The 3.3L V6 engine will power the LX, and the EX, with the 2.4L I4 available in a fuel efficiency package. The 3.8L will power the SX. As I said a couple of weeks ago, the CH finally got the green light. Kia has been planning a RWD sedan since 2007, and they finally have the technology to build off of. The VG (2011 Optima) will also be the first Kia sedan to benefit from an AWD system co-developed with Haldex. The 2011 Optima will also be competitively priced. The gas mileage, and standard SX AWD will sew up gaps in Optima sales. Although originally planned to be a vehicle larger then the Optima, the production VG has shrunk. Not to worry though, there will still be a 2010 Optima that will be exactly the same as the current Optima. VG sales won’t commence until late summer of 2010 in the USA. The VG also might be produced along the XM and CH in Georgia.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Lmao@Greg, dont worry it will happen dawg, it will happen. You know in a few months Ford will be throwing the Fiesta in our faces. That Next Gen Rio better be a winner.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Where do you get this info from Greg?
July 10th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I won’t imperil the job of the employee leaking information. Sorry. I can leak all the information I want, I don’t work for Kia.
July 10th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
OMG haha you Americans haven’t got the new Fiesta yet?
Well, it’s a pretty awesome car – easily the best in its class by a mile. Kia have got their work cut out for the next Rio.
Anyway, about the Amanti…Paul made a very good point. 2.0L isn’t that small. It’s not all about the size of the engine but what you do with it that counts!
July 10th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
182HP from a 2.4 Engine is hardly an achievment… VW pours +/- 170 HP (DIN not SAE!) from it’s 1.4TSI, Lotus 220 from it’s 1.8 and mini 211 (!!!) from its 1.6…
July 10th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
2.4L will not have only 184 hp but around 200 hp!
I agree, there are some cars (Bimmer 5 series) equipped with 2.0L four-cyl engines in Europe, but those belong to a car segment below that of Amanti.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I was just about to say, Hyundai is adding DI to the 2.4 and said it would be around 200hp. I don’t think the VG should have less than that.
July 10th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I was not accounting for the GDI, sorry, my mistake. GDI puts it at 224-234 HP.
July 10th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
My question is, why is everyone assuming the CH is going to be a bigger car than the VG? Hyundai had been planning a fourth Genesis variant that was essentially a cut-rate 3-Series sedan, sized similarly to the Infiniti G37, offering a mix of turbo four and V6 power, and priced between $25 – 35,000. It sounds like Hyundai has now decided to slot this car into Kia’s line-up instead. As I understand it, it will be smaller than the VG, which I presume is now going to be the Optima replacement. I wonder if it will also offer optional Haldex AWD, like the VG? I know the Genesis platform is AWD-capable, and that the next-generation Genesis Coupe is confirmed to be adding Haldex 4 as an option.
And before anyone complains that smaller doesn’t equal flagship, remember that the Maxima is smaller than an Altima. Making a flagship larger than a modern-day midsizer leaves you with a car like the new Taurus, which is HUGE.
July 10th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
So what’s with the 2.0 T GDI engine from the Koup concept? I know 290HP and 289lb-ft of torque wouldn’t find the way into production, but downsizig is in! And sometime KIA has to stop running behind and just overtake
.
Just look at Audi, that swapped their old 3.2 V6 in the S3, for a new inline4 2.0 T GDI with with 265HP and about 257lb-ft of torque. It not only gets higher mileage, but has more torque over a wider range.
The reason many brands don’t use the turbos for their bigger cars, is just because of the high A/T / CVT tranny orders that these cars get. And these transmission types don’t like the high torque figures. But maybe the new developed 6speed A/T could… But dunno about that.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Amanti needs a new look. I was hoping the VG was going to be the look but at this point i don’t care what the new amanti looks like as long as it is a major change.
July 10th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
There won’t be an alike line on the new Amanti, and it gets renamed, too.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Now the next Optima will finally get the AWD needs to be at the top of the segment and not following.
July 11th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Johnathan, not really if KIA Brings the No.3 as a US market Rio. If Kia Brings that over, Fiesta=FInished.
July 11th, 2009 at 1:30 am
The No.3 would be a better Fit (No Pun Intended) for the US market, due to its size taller than a Rio, but Shoter by 4 iniches. I dont think Americans are willing to buy a smaller Rio, in which the No.2 Concept will be smaller than the No.3 Concept.
July 11th, 2009 at 1:36 am
No.2 Concept would be the smallest B-Segment car sold in America, even smaller than the Fiesta. The Fiesta is almost, but not quite too small for American Standards. Its Smaller than a Fit, and its Definately Smaller than a Rio. The Fiesta looks nice, but the Rio has more size, and in America large size in a small car=competition regardless of fit and finish.
July 11th, 2009 at 1:38 am
Hyundai said they wouldnt consider a car that small like the i20 to replace the significantly larger Accent, in the US. Why would KIA do the same?
July 11th, 2009 at 5:23 am
Hi guys…Rio update looming soon here is Aus. Being a dealer I haven’t yet seen or heard of any pics….can anyone help me out?
July 11th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
i just saw a black 2008 Amanti with custom rims and a Mercedes Benz symbol replacing the Kia emblems. The customer even put the 350 on the back. I didn’t take any photos but the customer is going to come back later for service. I couldn’t stop laughing.
July 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I know someone who has done that, too! They had a custom rear garnish built, affixed a Mercedes hood ornament to the front, replaced the wheel caps with Mercedes, Replaced the steering wheel badge with Mercedes, and even went as far as replacing the engine cover with a Mercedes engine cover (lol, they use velcro to hold it in place, since Mercedes’ uses bolts in different places to hold the cover on).
July 11th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
why would some one do that? I can’t figure it out.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I’m going to wait and see what happens as alot thats being reported are just rumored speculation and nothing more. First, I don’t see the VG being Optima as the VG is supposedly the same length as if not longer than the current Amanti. Second, though the Amanti replacement is rumored to be RWD that doesn’t mean the US will be getting it as we were to get a VG based model to compete directly with the Maxima and Taurus class. As cool as this sounds it wouldn’t work well the new CAFE requirements and Hyundai is planning a luxury line with the Genesis models here in the US and having a $25-30K RWD Amanti would canibalize sales.
And Brian, the Maxima is bigger than the Altima. The only time it wasn’t was when the 2002 Altima was released and the old Maxima was still being produced.