Setting a Place at the Luxury Car Dinner Table
Many people were heard to remark, "Is that a Jag or a Mercedes," as I pulled in to park. No I exclaimed with a wink, "it's a Kia, what do you think?" "It's a Kia," they replied with doubt, "please be honest with us you journalistic lout."
But I was honest. Honest with the many curious people whose eyes glazed over at learning that Kia, the little Korean car company that could, was producing a luxury car capable of giving the big boys a run for their executive class dollars.
For the record, the Italian sounding, but Korean built Amanti is a 4-door, front-wheel drive V6 sedan designed to comfortably transport five adults. Its exterior dimensions ever so slightly eclipse those of the Jaguar S-Type, but fall just short of equalling the spatial footprint imposed by Buick's LeSabre.
Kia, a rapidly growing value-oriented car company, has recently expanded into the minivan and SUV markets with its highly touted Sedona and Sorento models. Now with the new Amanti, Kia has placed the mainstream manufacturers of large sedans squarely in the crosshairs and is about to pull the trigger.
The ammunition Kia has loaded into the Amanti is once again, simply "value." In reference to Amanti purchasers, Kia's America President Peter M. Butterfield put it this way: "These are buyers who seek full-size room and comfort with a full array of safety features, but who don't want to pay through the nose in the process. Amanti will give them everything they want, except a huge hole in their wallets."
Many people were heard to remark, "Is that a Jag or a Mercedes," as I pulled in to park. No I exclaimed with a wink, "it's a Kia, what do you think?" "It's a Kia," they replied with doubt, "please be honest with us you journalistic lout."
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| Kia, the little Korean car company that could, is producing a luxury car capable of giving the big boys a run for their money. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
For the record, the Italian sounding, but Korean built Amanti is a 4-door, front-wheel drive V6 sedan designed to comfortably transport five adults. Its exterior dimensions ever so slightly eclipse those of the Jaguar S-Type, but fall just short of equalling the spatial footprint imposed by Buick's LeSabre.
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| "These are buyers who seek full-size room and comfort with a full array of safety features, but who don't want to pay through the nose in the process." (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
The ammunition Kia has loaded into the Amanti is once again, simply "value." In reference to Amanti purchasers, Kia's America President Peter M. Butterfield put it this way: "These are buyers who seek full-size room and comfort with a full array of safety features, but who don't want to pay through the nose in the process. Amanti will give them everything they want, except a huge hole in their wallets."