Kia has revealed its all-new Sedona MPV, the biggest car it makes and a rival to the likes of the Chrysler Voyager, Ford Galaxy and next year's equally-new Renault Espace.
Kia claims that the reinvented Sedona has 'European-inspired styling' and you can clearly see the riffs it lifts from the likes of the smaller Carens, as well as the cee'd and newly refreshed Optima. It is a bit bulkier and brasher though, as befits the fact that the US will be the car's primary market.
Perhaps that also explains why there's no sign yet of any diesel engine details. All Kia is prepared to talk about for now is the 3.3-litre V6 petrol unit. It replaces Kia's old 3.5-litre engine and features a dual-step variable induction system, as well as variable valve timing and low-friction components to improve efficiency. It's still going to be a thirsty bugger though, especially as Kia is fitting it with a six-speed automatic when most rivals are moving on to eight-speeders.
All Sedonas come as standard with active safety features such as Electronic Stability Control, traction control, Brake Assist System, Hill-start Assist Control, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and anti-lock brakes. Additional technologies such as Roll Over Mitigation and Cornering Brake Control have been added as standard equipment for improved safety.
Additional driver technologies, including Vehicle Stability Management, Forward Collision Warning System, Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are available but they'll be on the options list.
Kia is claiming a market lead in the development of a new telematics system that includes such functions as Geo-Fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score. Clearly these functions are aimed at the anxious parents market and respectively mean This Far and No Further, Not So Fast Son, What Are You Doing out at This Hour and You Were Going How Fast? There's also a new Kia App store for downloading additional apps and full hands-free integration for both Apple and Android smartphones.
In a more traditional mechanical sense, the Sedona is built on an all-new platform that Kia claims has far better torsional stiffness than any rival. Three quarters of the body is made from either Ultra High Strength Steel or High Strength Steel, which helps to keep safety up but weight down. Kia has also upped the use of sound-deadening material and clever acoustic panels to try and keep refinement to a high level.
Inside there are seats for up to eight, depending on how you tip, side and fold all the chairs, while the 40mm wheelbase stretch compared to the old Sedona should help to make it spacious enough for all those bodies.
Anything else?
Will it come to Ireland though? That is far from certain. Although the old Sedona sold reasonably well, the market for big MPVs has shrunk quite a lot and most consumers now are more than happy with a mid-size seven seater; the likes of Kia's own (and rather impressive) Carens for instance. If the Sedona does make it to these shores, expect it to be in rather small numbers.