The 2011 Kia VG, rumored to be named Kia K7, leaks to the web before its official debut!

Looks like we got our hands on a very exclusive image today! The car on the picture appears to be the all-new Kia premium sedan, codenamed VG, which will make its official debut in November (next month).

As the image reveals, the production-ready model will adopt most of the styling cues from the KND-5 concept car, that Kia displayed at the Seoul auto show in April. The front-end of Kia’s new premium sedan features a massive, chrome surrounding signature grille, incorporating 5 horizontal bars, while a pair of distinctively styled headlamps feature LED daytime running lights.

First impressions, based on the leaked image, seem to be very good as the front fascia design appears to be light years ahead of the current bland and cumbersome Amanti/Opirus design.

A while ago, one of the car magazines reported that Kia has been considering to replace some of its unique vehicle nameplates with new nomenclatures, based on alphabet leters and numbers. The all-new premium sedan, rumored to be the first Kia vehicle to adopt new naming scheme, is expected to get a K7 nomenclature!

Right now, this is only a speculation and even if it comes out as true, it could only affect Korean-spec models. Naming, as well as other details, for the US-market VG sedan will be revealed closer to its official US debut, scheduled for the first half of 2010.

It’s no secret that the official Kia K7 (VG) launch is only a few weeks away, so so we are expecting more spy shots to leak onto the web shortly. Therefore, stay tuned for frequent information updates in the weeks to come.

UPDATE: Check out a gallery with numerous images of new Kia K7, here.

2011 Kia K7 (VG)

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New spy shots of the upcoming 2011 Kia VG sedan surfaced to the web today. The set of latest spy images shows a heavily camouflaged, white painted VG sedan prototype parked in a parking garage.

Kia’s flagship sedan is expected to get a wide variety of efficient four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines, including a 2.4L Theta II and revised V6 Lambda engines. The 2.4L four-cylinder engine will feature Kia’s latest direct injection gasoline (GDI) technology and generate 201 horsepower.

As latest rumors suggest, Kia will be following downsizing route and replace the 3.8L engine with the all-new 3.5L V6 unit. Such particular engine has already been introduced in the beautiful VG concept car that made its inaugural debut at the Seoul Auto Show earlier this year.

Along with modern engine line-up, Kia will also introduce the all-new 6-speed automatic transmission in the VG sedan. The 6-speed automatic gearbox has been first applied to the 2010 Sorento, which goes on sale in the States in January next year, and will soon find its way to other mid-size Kia vehicles. Reportedly, next generation Kia Optima and 2011 Sportage will both have it as well.

Another interesting information about the 2011 Kia VG is that Kia will likely bring the model to Europe and try to steal some sales from luxury carmakers such as Audi and BMW.

To succeed in Europe, Kia will have to offer the VG with a powerful, yet fuel efficient diesel engine and load it with luxury features. For Europe, the Korean carmaker will probably choose between a highly potent 2.2L four-cylinder engine with 197 horsepower and 3.0L V6 with 250 horsepower.

Regarding its luxury features, we have learned that the forthcoming Kia VG will be equipped with LED technology in both, head-lamps and tail-lamps! It will also feature ventilated front seats, parking guide system, rear heated seats and panoramic sunroof.

European (and US) sales are scheduled to commence in the second half of 2010, while Korean sales will kick off already this year.

This is the very first image of the interior lay-out of the all-new Kia VG. It looks classy and modern. In addition to the interior image, we bring you two exterior spy shots of a heavily disguised VG sedan. Enjoy the pics!

Kia VG gallery:

Kia VG sedan renderings released. Revealing the final shape of the forthcoming Kia premium sedan.

Kia has released the first batch of official renderings showcasing the forthcoming premium Kia sedan. We have first seen Kia VG at the Seoul Auto Show earlier this year, where it made its first public debut. Called Kia KND-5, the concept boasted a dynamic and very attractive exterior appearance that reflected the shape and style of the forthcoming production car.

The released renderings showcase the new premium sedan, with Kia’s family-look radiator grille and shining LED-running lights. According to the official press release, Kia VG sedan sits on 18-inch tires wrapping the attractively styled aluminum alloy-wheels. The sedan also sports side mirrors and tail-lights with integrated LED technology.

The upcoming Kia VG will share its front-wheel-drive platform with next-generation Hyundai Azera. It will be available with fuel-efficient 2.4L gasoline direct injected -GDI four-cylinder gasoline engine with estimated power of 200 hp and a 3.5L V6 Lambda with 277 horsepower. Kia VG is also rumored to be available with 2.7L V6 and 2.7L LPi engines.

The premium VG sedan will go on sale in South Korean market shortly after it makes it’s official debut, scheduled for November 2009. Good news is also that the model will also be exported to North American market in early 2010, where it will likely replace the ageing Amanti sedan. We expect to see official North American VG premiere to happen at the 2010 North American International Auto Show -NAIAS.

Kia VG rendering gallery:

Click image to enlarge!

Kia has taken the wraps off it’s latest concept at the Seoul Auto Show today. The VG concept presents the new direction of design that reflects the style of the upcoming near-luxury Kia sedan, which is scheduled to go on sale in Korean market in September this year.

Designed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, the VG concept sports an elegant, yet sporty exterior design. Front VG fascia features Kia’s latest family-look and a radiator grille based on a symbolic representation of a tiger’s roaring countenance. It’s refined side profile reveals a strong side character line ending at striking rear lights equipped with latest LED technology.

The 4,945mm long concept car is sitting on 20-inch large-diameter alloy wheels and is equipped with the panorama sunroof, which extends seamlessly from the front windshield to contribute to its open and sleek facade.

The Kia VG concept is a front drive vehicle, outfitted with a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine and produces 277 horsepower. The gasoline powered powerplant is mated to the six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.

The VG show car is a near-production concept vehicle, that will go into production later in the year. Initially, the car will only be available in South Korea, but plans to expand it’s sales to international markets, including US, where it will be replacing the aging Amanti sedan.

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Kia VG (KND-5) concept image released!

Kia has today released the first official image of it’s new KND-5 concept car due to be officially unveiled during the forthcoming 2009 Seoul Motor Show, which opens it’s doors this week and runs from April 3 until 12.

The official information on Kia’s latest concept car are slim, but we have learned that this beautiful near-luxury sedan rides on 20-inch tires and that it’s headlamps and tail-lamps are featuring latest LED technology. In addition, LED technology has also been applied to the outside door mirrors, while the sporty slopping roof benefits from this huge panoramic glass roof.

The Kia KND-5 concept is roughly the same size as the current Kia Amanti, measuring 4945mm long, 1850mm wide and 1475mm high. The concept car is built on a newly developed front-wheel-drive platform with a wheelbase of 2845mm.

Perhaps the most interesting information about this near-production concept vehicle is the engine unit displaced under it’s hood. According to Kia’s official Korean press release, the KND-5 concept features a 3.5L V6 Lambda engine!

Designed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, the KND-5 concept previews Kia’s upcoming near-luxury sedan, code-named VG, which spy pics have been seen quite oftenly on the web lately. The 2010 Kia VG will share it’s FWD platform with the next gen Hyundai Azera (codenamed HG) and is scheduled to make it’s official Korean debut in September this year.

The KND-5 concept, will be put on display at the Kia’s booth at Seoul Auto Show alongside next generation, 2010 Kia Sorento and Kia Forte hybrid electric vehicle, the world’s first hybrid car to be powered by LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gasoline) and applied with lithium polymer (Li–poly) batteries.

Click image to enlarge!

Various speculations on the new Kia VG sedan have been circulating on the web since first images hit the web in the summer of 2008. Despite it’s official launch approaching fast (September 09) many facts have not yet been cleared and seems like we will have to wait until it’s launch to finally place the VG sedan into the Kia’s vehicle line-up.

The all-new Kia VG sedan is expected to share a Front-Wheel-Drive architecture with the next generation Hyundai Grandeur/Azera and will replace the slow-selling Amanti sedan in the US. One of the rumors also suggests the model will be featuring an AWD system which would certainly make it much more upmarket and more attractive to buy.

Reportedly, the Korean Kia and Hyundai have partnered with Swedish Haldex experts, responsible to supply Kia with their latest all-wheel drive electronics. I guess we will have to wait until official VG’s September launch to get that rumor confirmed.

What’s more interesting, and I’d like to hear your opinions, is this question: Does Kia need this vehicle at all and will it sell in the crowded US market where consumers have been downsizing lately and focusing on buying smaller, more fuel efficient products?

You can share your thoughts and post them in the comments below but first, check out some more spy shots of the 2010 Kia VG sedan at the Worldcarfans website.

Not due to go on sale until later this year, the 2010 Kia VG sedan has been spotted again. According to Globalmotors, the source of latest spy pics, the 2010 Kia VG has been spied in Sweden where it was undergoing some cold-weather testing.

So far, we have seen plenty of spy shots revealing the VG sedan to feature a sleek and sporty exterior shape, but this is the first time spies have managed to snap a quality interior picture, which proves that Kia has also paid full attention designing the cockpit.

Compared to the current mid-sized Kia offerings, the VG features a more modern interior layout, with three large circular dials and a very cool-looking four spoke steering wheel accented with some wood-aluminum combination. Vg’s center console is covered with some black vinyls, but I bet it’s hiding a navigation LCD display beneath. You can also see a couple of cup holders placed aside the automatic gear shifter.

Codenamed VG, the future Kia sedan is expected to share a platform with the next generation Hyundai Azera as well as the same core engine range, including a second generation 2.4L Theta four-cylinder and a tweaked 3.3L LambdaV6. America will also get a 3.8L Lambda with an estimated power output of 270+ horsepower.

Speaking of it’s platform, there are some rumors spreading that Kia VG could become the first Kia sedan to feature an AWD system supplied by Swedish Haldex. A while ago, we have published a report about Haldex to deliver a prototype installation of an electronic all-wheel drive (AWD) system to Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group.

The VG sedan is slated to make it’s official Korean debut in September this year, while it’s US premiere is scheduled for spring 2010. [Source & more pics: Globalmotors]

More information: 2010 Kia VG

2010 Kia VG sedan

Here are some new Kia spy shots that were published at AVING network and show us a heavily disguised near luxury Kia VG prototype, which was caught by AVING spy shots.

This is yet another series of spy pics of the upcoming Kia VG sedan, which is about to hit the Korean market in the Autumn next year.

Although we have seen plenty of VG spy shots in the past year, we haven’t gathered many information on this upcoming Kia model. It is still not known how this vehicle will be positioned in the Kia range. Is it going to replace the Amanti/Opirus or it will be a stand alone model?

We know that Kia VG is coming to the USA in the 2010, but is it going to be built in USA? What engines will it have? Is it possible that this is going to be the first Kia vehicle to feature direct-injection gasoline engine, which Kia said it has in the pipeline?

Well, there are many questions on the 2010 Kia VG sedan at the moment, so let’s hope the 2009 will bring us all the answers and solves the mystery on this exciting Kia model!

Next Kia model to benefit from new design philosophy, outlined by Peter Schreyer and his team of designers, will be the near luxury VG sedan. Expected to sit on the same architecture as next generation Hyundai Azera, the VG will be making it’s official Korean debut in September next year.

Kia has been testing pre-production VG cars for a few months and several VG prototypes have been spied in public by now. Just recently, Brenda Priddiy & Co. have spotted another VG mule running down the street and took some new spy shots of it.

Previously, VG prototypes were wearing heavy camouflage not letting us to see much of their exterior design, but now, for the first time, a prototype has been spied almost undisguised with only some black-tapes covering details on front and rear fascias.

As you can see, the VG will adopt the “tiger nose” grille and will feature similar front bumper air-intake design as facelifted Kia Optima SX. Seen clearly for the first time is the strong character side line, which starts at the lower part of the front door, rises upwards and goes towards the rear end of the car, which features LEDs-equipped rear lights and a pair of bumper-integrated tailpipes.

The 2010 Kia VG will reportedly go on sale in US and Canada sometime in 2010, where it is expected to replace the slow selling Amanti sedan, and will be aiming at buyers looking for a little more class and comfort in their everyday cars.

Head over to Leftlane to view more images of the 2010 Kia VG! Click here or check our previous Kia VG post with spy shots included: 2010 Kia VG gallery

Before we move to Los Angeles auto show where Kia will officially unveil it’s latest production and concept car, we will take a quick look at the 2010 Kia sedan, whose new spy pictures just hit the web today.

Wearing a VG project name, this near-luxury Kia sedan is one of the future vehicles that has been spotted testing quite frequently lately. But in spite of it’s often public appearances, there are not many facts known on the vehicle itself. As a matter of fact, everything what you could have read about the VG so far, except of it’s official Korean release date, is more or less a speculation.

Today we received some news about it and they reveal that the VG will share it’s platform with future Hyundai Azera, which is currently being developed under the HG codename and is about to hit US shores in late 2010. Both models, the Kia VG and Hyundai HG will be FWD cars and will not be based on Genesis’ rear-wheel-drive platform as some reports suggested before.

Both models will also feature a brand new 6-speed automatic transmission, developed in conjunction with parent Hyundai. In addition, one of the latest news coming from Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group reveals the company has been busy with developing a new generation four, six and eight cylinder gasoline engines that will feature an advanced direct injection system.

The 2010 Kia VG and Hyundai Azera replacement model are believed to be the first cars to benefit from a direct injection engine technology, which is expected to bring engine’s horsepower ratings up by 7 percent and lower fuel consumption by 5 percent.

The Kia VG will probably make it’s official South Korean debut at the Busan Motor Show in April next year, while it’s sales is scheduled to commence in September of 2009.

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With a year left before Kia VG goes on sale in South Korea, this near-luxury sedan has been spied again while undergoing testing sessions somewhere in South Korea.

Over the past few months, we have seen plenty of interesting Kia VG spy shots, unofficial renderings and spy videos. All of them revealed the VG sedan will feature a distinctive exterior design. Beneath the camouflage, on the VG’s front fascia, you can find a stylish H-shapped grille and projector beam headlights. At the back there are striking horizontal LEDs equipped rearlights and a pair of two bumper integrated exhaust pipes.

The VG is a brand new model and will mark Kia’s first entry into the near-luxury sedan market. Built on the same (but improved) platform as Hyundai Azera, the VG will be much more performance oriented car with suspension set-up providing comfort and agile driving.

Due to go on sale in August 2009, the VG will most likely be powered by a 280hp Lambda V6 and four-cylinder Theta engine both mated to the six-speed automatic transmission. [Source: Careview]

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Another day and another Kia rendering! This time we have a rendering, that reveals how the VG’s rear fascia might look like in the final production form. Obviously this rendering is from the same artist as the one we got two days ago and showed the front of the near-luxury Kia sedan, that is expected to hit the market by August next year.  [Source: Bobaedream] (more…)

After we have shown you an exciting rendering that previewed the next generation Kia Sorento, we can now spice things up a little bit again by showing you the artist rendering sketch of the upcoming near-luxury 2010 Kia VG sedan.

The fancy speculative drawing surfaced to the web today and previews the possible production shape of the 2010 Kia VG sedan that we have been commonly seeing in the last few weeks. Future Kia VG sedan has been spotted testing in Death Valley (USA) and South Korea for several times and there are many great spy shots and videos of it.

Currently sitting atop Kia’s US lineup is the Amanti sedan but it is believed that this car will eventually replace the Amanti when it goes on sale in the second half of 2009. Early spy reports suggest that VG’s mechanical base, as well as it’s engines, will be shared with next generation Hyundai Azera. Therefore you can expect to see the updated, direct-injection, 3,8L Lambda V6 engine fitted under the hood of the near-luxury VG sedan. [Source: Bobaedream]
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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!

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