Where does that leave Kia? Some have said that Kia is being refashioned into a similar way, introducing more luxurious but bolder vehicles with a sportier twist. I think that’s a good plan.  There needs to be successful differentiation between the two. Otherwise, they will begin to encroach on each other’s territory.

Yes, that’s a Kia! The VG looks classy and quite a bit more aggressive than anything we’ve seen from Hyundai. There is a bold, Audi-like LED headlight graphic and an unique grille. The way it dips in the middle like that is interesting. And what is that I see – a Kia badge? A car just doesn’t look right without identification and it’s something we’ve seen lacking on the Kia Amanti and Hyundai Genesis.

I’m eager to see how Kia positions the VG. I could see it being priced similarly to others in the mid-size class like the Accord, but instead offering luxury-like specifications and design. However, Kia plans to go even further upmarket than this car- the VG isn’t a replacement for the Amanti like many think.

According to Kia, it will slot in between the Optima and the Amanti. It’s a misconception that the VG (code name) is based on the Hyundai Genesis. It is actually based on the Hyundai Azera. The Amanti’s replacement is being developed though, and is based on the Genesis and code named CH.

They’re the only volume automaker other then Subaru to see sales increases in a falling market. A large part is due to the Assurance Program, but also to customer’s recognition of the impressive new vehicles they’ve been putting out.  Let’s get to the news here though.

That’s the Kia “VG” Concept, codenamed KND-5. It’s based on the Hyundai Azera, and in my opinion is a big improvement on the car. While nice, the Azera is clearly a generation behind in the company’s styling evolution. The Kia VG Concept illustrates this very well.

It’s very modern, with an sleek and upscale look. It’s interesting to see how Hyundai will position Kia, like if they’ll infringe on each other’s territory.

The VG is an new entry, slotting above the Optima but below the flagship Amanti sedan. The Amanti replacement is being developed on the Genesis platform and is codenamed CH.

While report say it’s a “luxury sedan” and it certainly looks the part, they also include information of the base engine being a 4-cylinder Theta. That would lead me to believe Kia is going to position this car as their true mid-size competitor. The current lackluster Optima hasn’t done a great job of doing that for the company.

You might have noticed the Concept moniker following the Kia VG. Like has been the case with a lot of introductions lately, it will be a concept in name only. It a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) kind of a deal.

As always, we’ll know more soon when the official information comes out. I’m keen to see how they position this car, and also what the Amanti-replacement holds. I know Kia is supposed to have a bit more of a sport-oriented slant then Hyundai so we’ll see.