Kia Motors Corporation held the world premiere of its all-new Kia Magentis executive saloon at the Frankfurt Motor Show yesterday.

The new Magentis is a ‘high-value’ saloon offering improved power, higher performance, better handling, a smoother ride, more space, improved specification, a larger boot and enhanced fuel economy.

Created by Kia design teams in Korea, Germany and the USA, New Magentis, will go on sale next spring in the upper-medium sector.

Available only in European Magentis models, Kia’s new 2-litre 140 ps CRDi diesel engine features a variable-geometry turbocharger (VGT) and a diesel particulate filter as standard, for optimum performance and economy, with clean Euro IV emissions rating.

A special ‘Europe only’ interior, with an all-black or grey-black seating and trim combination, will replace the grey and beige two-tone treatment used in other markets. Front and rear seats have also been developed for the European market, with longer cushions and larger side bolsters on both the cushion and backrest. These seats will be standard fit for diesel powered models and will be introduced on petrol models later in 2006.

"New Magentis continues the recent Kia tradition of introducing new models which are attractively styled, comfortably appointed, technically sophisticated and thoroughly modern," said Yong-Hwan Kim, senior executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors Corporation.

The New Magentis will feature nine derivatives, including two equipment levels (LX and EX), two petrol engines (2.7 and 2.0-litre) and one diesel engine (2.0-litre) with five or six speed manual and four or five speed automatic transmissions, and an extensive range of optional equipment.

All Magentis engines will be available with an automatic transmission. Both petrol and diesel 2.0-litre engines can be ordered with a four-speed automatic transmission as an extra-cost option, while the 2.7-litre is mated to a new five-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The 2.0-litre diesel engine is supplied with an all-new, six-speed manual gearbox.

ABS with EBD, front and side airbags, front ‘active’ head restraints and three-point seatbelts for all five occupants, are fitted as standard. In addition, ESP stability control, reverse parking sensors and curtain airbags are available as options.

Kia intends to triple sales of New Magentis – targeting sales of almost 10,000 units annually in Europe.

  • Kia also revealed its latest concept vehicle, the seven-seater Multi-S (pictured) at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Conceived by Kia as a next generation CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) the Multi-S is designed to blend MPV and SUV styles.

    Kia’s Multi-S is intended to trigger public debate and generate feedback from consumers about their future motoring needs. At present, there are no plans to put Multi-S into production.