Kia Releases VG Sedan Renderings

As you might know, Hyundai and Kia are under the two brands under the same roof. Hyundai has pursued a relentless march upmarket, positioning itself as an all-encompassing brand spanning many segments.

Where does that leave Kia? Some have said that Kia is being refashioned into a similar way, introducing more luxurious but bolder vehicles with a sportier twist. I think that's a good plan.  There needs to be successful differentiation between the two. Otherwise, they will begin to encroach on each other's territory.

Yes, that's a Kia! The VG looks classy and quite a bit more aggressive than anything we've seen from Hyundai. There is a bold, Audi-like LED headlight graphic and an unique grille. The way it dips in the middle like that is interesting. And what is that I see - a Kia badge? A car just doesn't look right without identification and it's something we've seen lacking on the Kia Amanti and Hyundai Genesis.

I'm eager to see how Kia positions the VG. I could see it being priced similarly to others in the mid-size class like the Accord, but instead offering luxury-like specifications and design. However, Kia plans to go even further upmarket than this car- the VG isn't a replacement for the Amanti like many think.

According to Kia, it will slot in between the Optima and the Amanti. It's a misconception that the VG (code name) is based on the Hyundai Genesis. It is actually based on the Hyundai Azera. The Amanti's replacement is being developed though, and is based on the Genesis and code named CH.