www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 10, 2007 - 19 2007 Kia Amanati By Rob Beintema OAKVILLE BEAVER SPECIAL EVERYTHING Auto your guide to everything auto in Oakville Just about the riskiest thing you can do in the car biz is to not take risks. Which probably explains the Kia Amanti. It might seem pretty gutsy at first, for Kia, a company built on the foundation of cheap econo cars, to offer a fullsize (dare we say it?) `luxury' sedan. But growth in the industry demands a full spectrum of vehicles and Kia has wasted little time or caution in establishing itself in Canada. Six years after opening shop, Kia Canada sells more vehicles than either BMW, Mercedes or Suzuki. And they are closing steadily on Volkswagen's sales numbers. That's due to a steadily growing lineup of vehicles that now includes everything from cars to wagons to minivans and sport utes. And, yes, a luxury car. The Amanti that debuted a few years ago was a respectable entry. Sticking with Kia's strength, it offered affordable luxury. It had all the amenities, the content level was good and, from a distance, it could almost pass itself off as a Jaguar S-Type. The mixed bag of exterior styling cues seemed to be a blend of the dual headlamp Jag, or maybe Mercedes E-Class face, disguised by the false moustache of a Chrysler-like egg crate grille and topped with a touch of Lincoln added to the framing of the rear end. For 2007, this hodge-podge has been harmonized somewhat. The front hood is lower, balanced in back against a more Lincoln-like C-pillar, a raised rear deck and slightly extended back end with a corresponding 10 litre increase in trunk space. We get a new version of the egg crate grille up front although the Korean model, the Opirus has played with a Lincoln-style waterfall grille in concept. The back end is bracketed by a set of new and unique vertical tail lamps. That's probably the only part of the risk-taking philosophy applied to the styling of this tame and toned-down new package. But then, styling isn't the real story here. The real story lies under the skin where technical and performance advances have made a big difference in the capability and handling of the 2007 Amanti. Kia realizes that performance has become an integral component of any luxury package nowadays. "And the cornerstone of the new Amanti is power," said Dean Tesser, director of marketing. The old 3.5L engine has been swapped for a tweaked version of the Sedona minivan's 3.8L V6. You'll also find this engine and a good deal of other items from the parts bin shared with the Hyundai Azera. The new aluminum block motor features a chain-type timing belt, Variable Intake System (VIS), Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and it makes 264 hp compared to the 200 hp rating of the previous model. Torque is up to 260 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm, substantially increased over the old numbers of 220 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm. It all works out to a whopping 32 percent power increase. It also reduces the Amanti's 0-100 km acceleration times to 7.5 seconds from the old 9.2 second mark. And the Amanti does all this without paying a penalty at the fuel pumps. Gas consumption has been refined to 12.6L/8.2L/100km (city/hwy). Last year's ratings were 13.9L/8.7L/100km (city/hwy). So much for the numbers. But can you feel the difference? Yes. Drop the hammer and the new engine responds with a noticeable and lusty boost in vigour. The power increase is confidence-inspiring, opening up all kinds of new passing possibilities. And the muscle moves to the wheels smoothly With eight airbags, a significant power increase, loaded content level, and a $31,995 starting price point, the new 2007 Kia Amanti should prove more competitive than ever in the luxury sedan market. through a steptronic 5-speed automatic transmission that allows manual sequential shifting. Of course, all that power would be wasted if Kia hadn't tackled the suspension that, in the past, felt more like the mushy North American float-boat systems of the `70s. The new setup with high-mount double wishbones in back and a multi-link system up front, feels taut and controlled, still a little on the soft side of luxury but tracking nicely along bumps and through country road curves. Handling is stable and predictable with much less body roll and push through the corners. The package of performance improvements is rounded out by power rack & pinion steering, 4-wheel disc ABS braking and optional brake assist system (BAS), electronic stability control and traction control system. To enjoy the enhanced performance of the Amanti, designers also overhauled the interior, trashing the tacky woodgrain, adding real aluminum accents and re-working the dash and instrument panels with improved materials and textures. And I'll take the blue and white interior lighting over red illumination anytime. The cabin is roomy and comfortable, offers the security of an eight airbag safety system, and comes loaded with standard features that include automatic dual-zone climate control with humidity sensor, keyless entry, steering wheel audio/cruise controls, power seats, power windows, power locks, heated power mirrors and an AM/FM/CD/Cassette 8speaker stereo system. The Amanti comes in two trim levels. The model with the added luxury package that we test drove through rural Quebec, ups the content level with a power sunroof, the braking and traction control options, leather seating, upgraded Infinity audio and other goodies too numerous to mention. The car is not perfect. Traction control should be standard, not optional. I'd like to see telescopic steering adjustment in a car of this class. And when I noticed the rear seat with pass-through but without the 60/40 option there was a lot of hemming and hawing about the car being destined for 'older consumers' who 'don't need' the folding-seat family cargo versatility. But considering the mid-life improvements made, the EVERYTHIN percentage of power increase, the class-competitve eight airbag offering, the vastly improved handling and the always impressive content level and dollar value bolstered by Kia's 5-year warranties, the Amanti is definitely worth a look. Especially for anyone who might be considering a move up in class but is still concerned with price. "Hey, we just want our unfair share of the market," Tesser joked at the end of his launch presentation. And with this 2007 Amanti, Kia might just get it. *