Kia Opirus

Kia Opirus
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia Motors Avtotor
Also called	Kia Amanti Kia Iris (North Korea)
Production	2002–2011
Assembly	South Korea: Hwasung (Hwasung Plant) Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor)[1]
Body and chassis
Class	Executive car
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related	Hyundai Grandeur XG
Powertrain
Engine	2.7 L Mu V6 (gasoline) 3.3 L Lambda II V6 (gasoline) 3.5 L Sigma V6 (gasoline) 3.8 L Lambda V6 (gasoline)
Transmission	5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,800 mm (110.2 in)
Length	4,980 mm (196.1 in) (2003-2006) 5,000 mm (196.9 in) (2006-2010)
Width	1,850 mm (72.8 in)
Height	1,485 mm (58.5 in)
Curb weight	1,864 kg (4,109 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Kia Enterprise
Successor	Kia Cadenza Kia K9

The Kia Opirus was an executive car manufactured and marketed by Kia Motors that was launched in April 2003 and was marketed globally under various nameplates, prominently as the Amanti. It was considered to be Kia's flagship vehicle.

As Kia's largest entry into the executive car market, the Opirus/Amanti had been marketed in a single trim level and only as a sedan. It shared some components with its now-defunct corporate cousin, the Hyundai Grandeur XG, including its 3.5 L V6 engine. For 2007, the Kia Opirus received various upgrades, including suspension and styling revisions, and the addition of the same engine as the current Hyundai Grandeur (Azera), this time being a 3.8 L V6 engine.

In the U.S., the Amanti was recognized as the "Most Appealing Premium Midsize Car" by J.D. Power and Associates' 2005 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study.

The 2007 Amanti outscored several luxury cars in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) side-impact crash testing, to earn the highest rating of Good.^[2]

As of December 17, 2010, the Kia website no longer listed the Amanti as a production model.^[3] Many critics have noticed the apparent visual similarities to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W210).

• 

  2003 KIA Opirus

• 

  2007 Kia Amanti

• 

  2008 Kia Opirus GL

• 

  2009 Kia Opirus GL

Successor

Kia Motors replaced the Oprius/Amanti with two vehicles. The Kia Cadenza was designed to fill the executive car classes, while the Kia Quoris was designed to fill the full-size luxury car class.

The Kia Cadenza, officially unveiled on October 18, 2009, is completely redesigned to reflect Kia's new design style. It is based on the platform of the next-generation Hyundai Azera (HG).^[4] The Cadenza will replace the Kia Amanti, and features many features found on more expensive luxury cars, such as a heated steering wheel, power extendable seat cushions, automatic windshield defogger, and cooled front seats.^[5] Like the Amanti, the Cadenza is only equipped with an automatic transmission.

The Kia K9 is an upscale full-size premium sedan from South Korean automaker Kia. It will replace the Opirus sedan in the Korean market, and will follow in the product line of the Kia K5 and Kia K7. The car is a derivative of the BH-L (VI) platform shared with the Hyundai Equus. The K9 is slightly shorter than the Equus, but has a more aggressive, sporty stance as well as a longer wheelbase with shorter front overhang dimensions. Kia's signature "Tiger nose" grill has been adopted in the front fascia design.

References

1. "Avtotor". Avtotor.ru. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
2. Money CNN "An expensive car may not always get you side-impact protection, according to a new report." http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/13/autos/iihs_luxury_sedan_impact/
3. Kia Amanti website
4. "Kia VG sedan rendering released". Kia-world.net. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
5. "Kia Unveils Cadenza Luxury Sedan". Automoblog.net.

External links

• Kia Opirus official site
• Amanti Homepage
• Cars.com review
• ConsumerGuide review
• Kia Amanti Research Guide