Kia Opirus

The Kia Opirus is an executive car/full-size sedan, manufactured by Kia Motors and marketed over a single generation for model years 2003–2012 globally and 2004–2009 in North America. Having debuted internationally at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, the four-door, five-passenger, front-engine, front-drive sedan was launched to the North American market at the New York International Auto Show and in San Diego, bearing the Amanti nameplate — and prioritizing luxury content and comfort over dynamic performance and agility.

Intended to give Kia upward access to global premium markets, the Opirus represented a departure for the brand in both styling and market positioning. Developed over 22 months at a cost US$167 million (€143 million), 18% of the overall development cost went to R&D investment and 41% to development of production technologies.

As Kia's first premium vehicle, the Opirus replaced the Mazda 929-derived Enterprise in the South Korean domestic market. The Opirus was also the first Kia vehicle sharing a platform with sister company Hyundai, using a variation of the third generation Hyundai Grandeur/XG Y4 platform. For the Opirus, the platform was lengthened 1.9 inches, overall length increased 4.1 inches and height increased 2.6 inches. As Kia's largest sedan, the Opirus was marketed in a single trim level, sharing components with the Grandeur/XG, and a range of engines including its 3.5 L V6 engine (North America). All models were manufactured in Kia's Hwaseong Plant near Incheon.

A 2007 facelift, introduced at the 2006 Paris Auto Show, included upgraded specifications, a curb weight reduction of 250 pounds,[2]

Design and equipment

The Opirus' styling — described variously as conservative,[7] neo-classic, restrained, unoriginal and derivative[7] — drew cues from disparate sources, notably the Mercedes-Benz E-class, Lincoln Town Car, Jaguar S-Type, Lexus GS, Chrysler 300C, and Lancia Thesis.[4][8]

In the Korean Domestic Market, interior features included available heated and reclining rear seats,[9] high-intensity-discharge headlights, navigation system, electro-luminescent gauges, ignition immobilizer, reverse parking sensors and electronically adjustable suspension settings.

In North America, the sedan was marketed to value-sensitive 40-to-60-year-old professionals[9] with standard equipment at introduction including manually tilting leather-wrapped, four-spoke steering wheel[9] with faux woodgrain inserts and remote audio and cruise controls; faux wood grain dash, console and door accents (lighter prior to the 2007 facelift, darker thereafter); power locks and windows; CD player with six speakers; electronic driver- and passenger-adjustable climate control; front, curtain and side airbags;[9] dual zone automatic climate control; keyless entry; herring bone cloth interior; glove-box only key; elongated LED turn-signals; rain-sensing windshield wipers; analog clock; foot-operated parking brake (releasable by a dash-mounted pull-handle); power moonroof; 16" alloy wheels; full-size spare on an alloy wheel; and an eight-way powered driver's bucket seat and four-way passenger bucket seat with door-mounted adjustment controls using a "mock-seat" ergonomic design. The interior received heavy acoustic insulation,[10][7] and later models included heated rear seats, and electro-luminescent instrument lighting.[10]

Options included leather interior, 270-watt Infinity stereo with subwoofer and six-disc changer,[11] dashboard LCD screen, trip computer with 4" LCD screen, heated seats, Adjustable pedals, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and pearl coat paint.[9] Safety equipment included eight airbags, and obstruction-sensing, anti-pinch power windows.

The Opirus offered a passenger volume of 105.6 cubic feet[12] and a 15.5 cubic foot cargo volume[9] — the trunk equipped with a gas strut-assisted lid and luggage restraining net.[12]

In North America, J.D. Power and Associates recognized the Amanti as the "Most Appealing Premium Midsize Car" in its 2005 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study.

manufacturer	Kia Motors
aka	Kia Amanti (North America)
production	2003–2011
model years	2003–2012 2004–2009 (North America)
assembly	South Korea: Hwasung (Hwasung Plant) Russia: Kaliningrad (Avtotor)‡R1R‡
class	Executive car/Full-size car (E)
body style	4-door sedan
related	Hyundai Grandeur (XG) Hyundai Grandeur (TG)
engine	Petrol: 2.7 L Delta V6 2.7 L Mu V6 3.0 L Sigma V6 3.3 L Lambda V6 3.5 L Sigma V6 3.8 L Lambda V6 Petrol LPG: 2.7 L Mu LPi V6
transmission	5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic
wheelbase	2800 mm
layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
length	4980 mm (Pre-facelift) 5000 mm (Facelift)
width	1850 mm
height	1485 mm
weight	1665 - 1864 kg
predecessor	Kia Enterprise
successor	Kia K7/Cadenza

Design and equipment

Drivetrain

Engines

External links

References