Kia gives us a glimpse of the second-generation Cadenza sedan
The automaker plans to retain its premium vehicles despite Hyundai spinning off Genesis into a separate entity.
The Kia Cadenza is a full-size premium sedan meant to go up against cars like the Buick LaCrosse and Nissan Maxima. With a new Maxima on the market, and a new LaCrosse to follow in the next year, the segment is once again heating up. Kia's making sure its product is up to date, too, and what you see here is the first look at the Cadenza's second generation, set to launch next year.
Compared to the current model, the next Cadenza looks far more angular. It's longer, lower and wider -- a little less cartoonish than the current offering. The character line running the length of the body is also a bit stronger, and there are far more sharp edges hidden in the front fascia. The rear end looks to extend Kia's current design language, with large, flowing taillights and more of a fastback shape coming off the roofline.
The interior's rendering looks far more production-ready than the rest. The general focus on horizontal lines continues, and Kia mentions that there will be a new focus on high-end interior materials. Familiar Kia touches abound, like the steering wheel and the grouping of physical switchgear beneath the infotainment screen. All in, the Cadenza's new interior looks like it belongs on the brand's flagship K900 sedan.
If this second generation seems to be hard on the heels of the first, your assumption would be correct. The US received the first-gen Cadenza in 2013, halfway into the car's global lifecycle. Thus, the time has come to crown a successor to the throne of surprisingly cheap luxury. Kia says the new Cadenza will launch in 2016, but specifics about price and market availability are nonexistent.
