2004 Kia Amanti

NEW YORK, April 17, 2003 – At the New York International Auto Show today, Kia Motors America (KMA) pulled the wraps off the 2004 Amanti, an all-new, large sedan that will provide a level of room, comfort, quality and safety never before offered by a Kia vehicle.

Amanti will be the newest addition to the growing Kia product range and the most recent fulfillment of the company’s plans to reach out to a larger number of American consumers. Kia impressed many industry observers and consumers in the past two years with the high levels of value, quality and safety in such recent new products as the Optima sedan, Sedona minivan and Sorento SÚV. The new Amanti sedan will take these brand attributes to the large-car segment with the kind of room, comfort, convenience features and comprehensive safety equipment consumers expect in this segment.

“Amanti is our effort to reach out to yet another group of buyers who we weren’t previously attracting,” said Kia Motors America President Peter M. Butterfield. “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.”

The Amanti is a breakthrough model for Kia, both in terms of its styling and its positioning, with more expressive looks and a less conservative image than its competitors. This new sedan will not only appeal to a whole new group of buyers for Kia, it will also help shift consumers’ impression of Kia as a maker of small, entry-level cars to that of a company providing leading value in every segment where it competes.

Design

The large-car segment is typically one that most people associate with plain, uninspiring cars. Kia plans to prove otherwise with Amanti. To compete successfully in this segment, the company believes that its new entry must stand out in the crowd with a good-sized helping of style and character both inside and out.

The Amanti is no cookie-cutter car. This is a sedan that makes a bold statement-- from its classically inspired grille to its limousine-like roofline.

Dominating the front view is the distinctive chrome-trimmed grille. Two character lines on each side of the hood create a scalloped look. The grille is flanked by dual headlamp clusters consisting of elliptical lamps framed to match the lines of the grille and hood. The outside lamp clusters contain neatly integrated fog lamps, and wide horizontal LED turn signals add a high-tech touch and excellent visibility. A single character line runs the length of the side of the car and is emphasized by a chrome side protector, presenting a smooth and uncluttered finish. The passenger compartment is rounded off at the C-pillar to create a strong, executive look as well as class-leading headroom. Completing the side view are stylish 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 225/60R16 Michelin tires.

From the rear, the Amanti is equally distinctive. The center of the rear deck rises above the fender line for additional cargo room and aerodynamic efficiency. Dominating the rear view are horizontal taillights, which are split across the trunk. On the outside are turn signals and brake lights. On the inside are the rear reflectors with reverse lights integrated in the rear garnish. The taillights are protected by a clear polycarbonate lens cover and embellished with faceted detailing that imparts an upscale appearance and a stylish, polished appeal.

The interior design for the Amanti builds on the car’s striking exterior. Step inside and you’ll notice the same flowing lines that characterize the exterior of the vehicle, with gently curved surfaces and smooth edges. The wood-grain finish on the doors, center fascia and console gives the interior a sophisticated look and feel.



The center console features a high, padded armrest that opens to reveal storage capacity for front-seat occupants. The automatic gear selector features a polished front plate that adds impact and a touch of flair to the interior. The door panels reflect the design of the rest of the interior and are highlighted once again with wood-grain trim. Interior door handles are chromed. Overall, the interior lends a light and airy feel, thanks to the large expanse of glass, and is roomy enough to seat five adults in considerable comfort.

Comfort and Convenience

The elegant interior design is complemented by a full range of comfort and convenience features. The thoughtfully designed instrument panel incorporates easy-to-read analog gauges for clear legibility both day and night. An LCD display on the dash provides a wide variety of data from the trip computer.

The Amanti’s fully automatic climate control system offers “set and forget” temperature settings with dual temperature controls for each side of the passenger compartment.

The audio system is the most sophisticated ever offered in a Kia. Designed and manufactured by Infinity, the six-channel, 270-watt sound system delivers exceptional highs, mids, and lows for a dynamic listening experience. Its six-disc in-dash CD changer, AM/FM receiver and cassette deck allows you a full selection of news and music at your fingertips. The audio system is tuned to the interior to ensure the very best acoustic performance.

With the stereo off, you’ll find the Amanti is an exceptionally quiet vehicle. It uses a number of different structural and technological refinements to reduce noise, vibration and harshness, including foam padding within the wheel wells, urethane insulation pads in the roof pillars, and robust sound deadening pads in the floor, roof and dash.

Power door locks and windows are standard on Amanti. A backup system prevents the doors from being locked if the key is left in the ignition, while the one-touch up and down windows have an anti-pinch feature that senses obstructions and automatically rolls down the window. The ignition incorporates an immobiliser feature for theft protection. A power tilt-and-slide sunroof provides open-air motoring in fair weather.



With Amanti, there’s more of everything, and room is no exception. In the front, there is a class-leading 40.0 inches of headroom and 43.7 inches of legroom, besting such key competitors as Toyota Avalon, Chrysler Concorde and Buick LeSabre. Move to the back seat and you’ll find 37.8 inches of legroom and a class-leading 38.4 inches of headroom. Shoulder rooms stacks up well also with 58.1 inches up front and 57.5 inches in the back.

Interior space is further expanded by a full range of storage areas. The front center armrest flips up to reveal a two-level storage area. Two beverage holders in front of the armrest are designed to hold containers in a range of different sizes. In front of the passenger seat is a lockable glove box that contains a separate tray for independent storage of smaller items. The driver and front passenger doors contain adjustable map pockets and larger hard-cased compartments that fold out from the front doors to accommodate bulkier items. In the rear are front seat-back pockets and a storage space inside the fold-away central armrest, which also contains two cup-holders.


Safety

One of the biggest stories about the Amanti is its unprecedented level of safety for a vehicle in its class. In both active and passive safety, the Amanti will be a leader in offering safety equipment in the large-car segment. On the active safety front, the Amanti features an anti-lock braking system supplemented by a range of electronic systems that ensure the driver maintains complete control of the vehicle even when stopping in difficult conditions. It offers ABS as standard equipment, but that’s just the beginning. Electronic braking distribution, brake assist, traction control and electronic stability control will be available in a model with pricing that will set a new standard for value among large cars.

The integrated electronic brake distribution (EBD) system apportions braking force front and back according to the vehicle’s load distribution. The traction control system (TCS) incorporates speed sensors on each wheel that detect tire slippage at the drive wheels when accelerating. Once slippage is detected, engine output is reduced and braking applied to transfer power to the wheel with the most traction.

The Amanti’s Electronic Stability Program, developed by Continental Teves, works by monitoring and comparing data on driver and vehicle behaviour. Sensors measure the speed of the vehicle, the intended direction of the car based on the steering angle and the actual tracking of the car. The moment a potential skid is identified, the ESP system intervenes by individually controlling braking at the wheels and by reducing engine power to control yaw and restore proper vehicle dynamics.

Passive safety features on Amanti are impressive as well. A full array of eight airbags is standard. Driver and front-passenger airbags are complemented with front and rear seat-mounted side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. The supplemental restraints in the front are “smart” airbags controlled by sensors that gauge the severity of a frontal impact before deployment. This ensures that the airbags are not triggered by low-impact collisions like those that typically take place in parking lots.

These smart airbags are also linked to seatbelt buckle sensors, which allow the passive safety systems to respond to a collision in different manners depending on whether passengers are wearing seatbelts or not. In a minor, low-speed collision in which adequate protection is provided by the seatbelt alone, the airbag will not deploy. Side-airbags are installed in the front and rear seats to provide added protection in the event of a side impact, and full-length side curtain airbags deploy for head protection. The Amanti also uses active front headrests that move forward and up in a rear collision to further enhance head protection. Rounding out the Amanti’s overall safety story, the sedan’s unibody is computer designed to minimize deformation of the passenger compartment in the event of a collision. Crumple zones at the front and rear absorb and disperse collision forces, while side-impact bars and reinforced pillars enhance passenger protection in the event of a side collision.

Performance

The front wheel-drive Amanti is motivated by a refined 3.5-liter, twin-cam, 24-valve V6 engine. The powerplant puts out 195 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 217 ft-lbs of torque at a class-leading 3,500 rpm.* Engine noise is controlled by ample sound-deadening materials and a full engine room cover that also enhances the under-hood appearance of the car.


With key competitors still using four-speed automatics, Amanti’s powertrain includes a best-in-class five-speed automatic transmission, which incorporates a sequential manual mode to provide the driver with a choice between pure automatic shifts or the control of manual gear selection. The driver can select manual mode at any time when the gear selector is in the Drive position by moving the gearshift lever sideways into the shorter slot of the “H”. Pushing the gearshift lever forward then shifts up a gear and pulling it back shifts down. The current gear is numerically displayed by an LED lamp on the cluster and will be maintained until the driver changes gear or unless one of the failsafe systems cuts in.

The Amanti’s remarkable ride comfort begins with an independent double wishbone front suspension with coil springs and a stabilizer bar. The double wishbone system offers many advantages, including optimum tire grip, improved traction and excellent camber control with the lower wishbone arm particularly good for enhancing lateral rigidity and reducing road noise.

At the rear, the Amanti rides on an independent multi-link suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar. This combination gives the Amanti maximum agility, predictable steering and handling behaviour during cornering and excellent directional stability. Gas-filled shock absorbers are standard equipment, providing consistent damping to absorb anything from small imperfections to large bumps.

Amanti’s ideal blend of size, comfort, interior room, distinctive styling, long list of convenience features and comprehensive active and passive safety systems will make it a formidable competitor in the large-car segment in the Ú.S. By following the Kia formula that has made the company one of the fastest-growing brands in Ú.S. history, Amanti will take the key ingredients of value, quality and safety to an entirely new group of consumers. Add in the peace of mind of a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, and few would argue that Kia’s new Amanti sedan will be a significant new presence in the large-car market.

Source - Kia Media

Kia Amanti Ready for the Big Time

Company's New Sedan to Compete in Large-Car Segment
Since entering the American market in 1994, Kia has enjoyed a succession of record-breaking annual sales by thinking big. Now, the latest and perhaps best expression of that thinking is being unveiled today at the 2003 New York International Auto Show. It's an all-new large sedan with an all-new name announced today – the Kia Amanti.

With the introduction of the Sorento SÚV launched last year, Kia took another step to make good on its plan to offer a full line of vehicles that meet the needs and desires of a wide range of American buyers. Amanti is the next step in that plan and a significant addition to the line because it expands Kia's market to an all-new buyer for the brand -- the large-car buyer.

The large-car segment is typically one that most people associate with plain, uninspiring cars. Kia plans to prove otherwise with Amanti. To compete in this segment, Kia believes it must offer something none of the other entries do, and one factor clearly lacking in the segment is distinctive styling. The company believes that its new entry must stand out in the crowd, with a good-sized helping of style and character both inside and out. The Amanti delivers on that promise.

Kia sees three advantages in entering the large-car segment. First, unlike most other segments in the market, there are reasonably few Asian-brand competitors, so the company believes it has a good chance to make inroads in this part of the market. Second, since Kia does not currently offer a vehicle in the large-car segment, Amanti provides the potential for incremental sales of customers new to the brand, as well as a logical choice for current Kia owners to consider for their next new car purchase. Finally, the company believes its newest model will enhance Kia's brand image because of Amanti's position in the market.

'Entering the large car market is our way of showing the world once again that Kia has the ability and the will to make vehicles that serve an ever larger group of buyers,' said Kia Motors America President and CEO Peter M. Butterfield. 'Some might call entering this competitive segment highly ambitious. We just call it the Kia way.'

The Amanti will go head-to-head with the likes of the Toyota Avalon, Buick LeSabre and Chrysler Concorde. Those vehicles are the key nameplates in a segment predicted to grow steadily in the years ahead. While none of those vehicles can be called outright luxury cars, they do offer plenty of room plus a wide variety of comfort and convenience features. By following the Kia formula that has made it one of the fastest-growing brands in Ú.S. history, Amanti will offer more than the buyer expects, including a level of sophistication and a range of safety features usually found at the higher end of the market – but at a lower-than-expected price.

Amanti is a breakaway model in terms of its styling and its positioning. The target buyers for the Amanti hold professional or managerial jobs, are in their mid-forties to late-fifties and want a stylish, large sedan. (concept carz) Kia expects the typical Amanti buyer to be a married male, 55 years old, with a college education and a household income of $60,000 - $80,000 per year. Most buyers in this demographic group have never considered a Kia vehicle before, but as the leading edge of the baby boomers, many have owned international brands, and they appreciate great value.

'To consumers who have never considered a Kia, we say now is the time to put us on your list,' said Walter Anderson, vice president of marketing, Kia Motors America. 'We believe Amanti will exceed the expectations of most large-car buyers, and it will do so with room, comfort and sophisticated safety features at a lower price than they would expect.'

A strategic goal of the car is to help erase the outdated perception of Kia as a maker focused exclusively on small, entry-level cars. The company has proven its ability to attract more affluent buyers with such products as the Sedona minivan and Sorento SÚV, and it expects to continue doing so with the Amanti sedan. (concept carz) By competing in the large-car segment, Kia will showcase its ability to produce a car with a level of roominess, comfort, refinement and safety that is unprecedented for the brand.

For Kia, now is the perfect time to introduce Amanti. Just weeks ago the company sold its one-millionth vehicle in the Ú.S., a feat that was achieved in less than 10 years in the market. Sorento is in short supply, and Sedona is selling at a record pace. The brand's momentum with its newest products is headed in the right direction, and with Amanti, Kia intends to show the automotive world that the company remains on track to achieve its objective of creating a larger presence in the Ú.S. market with a broader range of products that offer quality, value and safety for American consumers.

Source - Kia

Kia Announces Pricing for 2004 Amanti

Amanti Enters Large, Premium Sedan Segment with MSRP of $24,995
At the South Florida International Auto Show today, Kia Motors America announced pricing for the all-new 2004 Kia Amanti large, premium sedan with a suggested retail price (MSRP) starting at $24,995. The Amanti, Kia's first large, premium sedan arrives at Kia dealerships across the country in late November.

'The Amanti launches Kia into the large-car segment as the leader in safety and overall value,' said Peter M. Butterfield, Kia's president and chief executive officer. 'With the introduction of the all-new Amanti, we are taking the next step in our plan to offer a full line of vehicles that meet the needs and aspirations of a wide range of American buyers.'

The Amanti is a breakthrough model for Kia, both in terms of its styling and its positioning, with more expressive looks and a less conservative image than its competitors. This new sedan will not only appeal to a whole new group of buyers for Kia, it will also help shift consumers' impressions of Kia as a maker of small, entry-level cars to that of a company providing leading value in a broader range of segments across the Ú.S. automotive market.

With its bold, expressive styling, class-leading safety features and well-equipped interior, the all-new Amanti will set a new value standard in the large-car segment. The front-wheel-drive, five-passenger Amanti is powered by a 3.5 liter, DOHC, V6 engine with 195 horsepower. The all-new large, premium sedan features active front head rests, three-stage dual front airbags, front and rear seat mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags, four-wheel independent suspension, power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The Amanti is equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission, and is offered in one model with very few options.

Inside, the Amanti features the best sound system ever offered in a Kia. An Infinity, six-channel, 270-watt, 8-speaker sound system includes a six-disc in-dash CD changer, AM/FM receiver and cassette deck. Additional comfort and convenience features include power door locks and one-touch, up and down power windows, eight-way power adjustable driver's seating, automatic climate control and class-leading head and leg room.

Amanti's ideal blend of size, comfort, interior room, distinctive styling, long list of convenience features and comprehensive active and passive safety systems make it a formidable competitor in the large-car segment in the Ú.S. By following the Kia formula that has made the company one of the fastest-growing brands in Ú.S. history, Amanti takes the key ingredients of value, quality and safety to an entirely new group of consumers. Like all other Kia vehicles, the Amanti is covered by the Kia's industry leading 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Kia Motors America is the Ú.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.

Source - Kia

Kia Rewrites the Rules for the Marketing Launch of Amanti

Advertising Campaign Únveils Kia's New Large Sedan and Introduces Kia Brand to a New Consumer
Where is it written that a big car has to be boring? That's the question asked by Kia Motors America in a new integrated advertising campaign from independent ad agency davidandgoliath supporting the launch of the Amanti, Kia's first entry into the large sedan segment.
The broadcast break of the advertising campaign for Amanti, which launches on Dec. 26, is part of a broader sales, marketing and public relations push which also includes a cross-country mall tour and grassroots initiative.




The advertising campaign is designed to make an assertive statement about Kia's entry into the full-size market, as well as create awareness and drive purchase consideration. It positions the Amanti as a roomy sedan designed to excel in the areas that matter most to mature Boomer car buyers—such as contemporary styling, numerous luxury and advanced safety features and best-in-class warranty—making it not only a great value, but a vehicle they will be proud to own as well.

The TV component of the campaign breaks Dec. 26 with a teaser spot titled 'Intro' that shows sleek tracking shots of the Amanti racing across the desert as on-screen graphics ask viewers whether what they are looking at is a luxury import—or even if it is a luxury car at all.



Print ads for Amanti that capture the same iconic imagery will break in January editions of such consumer publications as Time, Newsweek, ÚSA Today, Money and Southern Living, as well as in the car enthusiast titles Car and Driver, Road and Track, Motor Trend and Automobile.

'We chose the ‘books' metaphor because we see the Amanti as throwing out the old rules for big cars and writing its own, in terms of what these cars should look like and who they're targeted to,' said davidandgoliath Chairman and Chief Creative Office David Angelo. 'In the process, Kia is bringing a breath of fresh air to a rather staid category with the Amanti and we believe our research shows that we have done just that with this new campaign.'

Retailing at around $25,000, the Amanti comes equipped with a wide range of features usually found on cars costing much more, including a 3.5L V6 engine with 5-speed automatic. Amanti also comes with a level of safety features normally reserved for performance imports costing much more, including dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags side curtain airbags, front active headrests and ABS. It also comes with a 10 year/100K mile warranty with five-year roadside assistance.

Target buyers for Amanti hold professional or managerial jobs and are in their mid-forties to late-fifties and want a stylish large sedan. (concept carz) Most buyers in the target demographic group have never considered a Kia vehicle before, but as the leading edge of the baby boomers, many have owned international brands and they appreciate great value.

The Amanti is the newest addition to the growing Kia product range and the most recent fulfillment of the company's plans to reach out to a broader spectrum of American consumers. With its distinctive styling and impressive list of standard equipment, the Amanti will attract new, more affluent customers to the Kia brand, and will also continue to evolve the automaker's image from that of a small, entry-level manufacturer to a company offering consumers value, quality and safety in a full product range.

The 2004 Kia Amanti debuts at Kia retail showrooms throughout the Únited States in December 2003. Kia Motors America is the Ú.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp. in Seoul, South Korea.

About davidandgoliath
davidandgoliath (dng) is a national full-service independent agency of hand-selected professionals with outstanding creative, media, marketing, account planning, account management, TV and print production capabilities, and an outsourcing network of national and global resources. Founded in November 1999, davidandgoliath is headquartered in Los Angeles with a satellite office in New York City. To learn more about dng, visit www.dngla.com.

Source - Kia

Amanti Named 'The Most Significant New Entry Into the Luxury Segment'

Car.com Presents The Premium Sedan With One Of Four 'Impact' Awards At NY Auto Show
The 2004 Kia Amanti made an 'Impact' recently at the New York International Auto Show when Car.com named it 'The Most Significant New Entry Into The Luxury Segment,' receiving one of the web site's four 'Impact' awards. The editors of Car.com, a popular online multimedia company established by car enthusiasts to serve automotive buyers, dealers and manufacturers, evaluated more than 300 vehicles in every industry segment to compile the web site's first annual Editor's Choice Awards.
'It is quite an accomplishment for the Amanti to receive a luxury category award when you consider the competitive nature of the segment and the fact that the Amanti is priced around $26,000,' said Peter M. Butterfield, president and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA). 'The Kia brand has changed significantly over the last two years with the introduction of several new products, and the Amanti successfully follows Kia's philosophy of offering high levels of safety, quality and value, at a reasonable price to the consumer.




Car.com's editors chose 'Impact' awards to reward the most outstanding winners in the overall car, SÚV/van, truck and luxury categories.

Headquartered in the 'Motor City,' the StoneAge Corporation is a multimedia company founded by car enthusiasts to serve the automotive buyer, dealer and manufacturer through the use of the Internet and other emerging forms of media. In late 2002, Car.com replaced Stoneage.com as the company's automotive consumer portal. Car.com offers consumers the ability to receive actual price quotes from partnered dealers in their area, research car prices, specifications & reviews, obtain financing for their new or used car purchase and sell their car online.

Source - Kia