It’s not difficult for Kia to come up with a mid-life refresh for its cars as the Korean company is constantly updating its automobile range and together revising its design language.
Back in September, CarScoop reader Sach Mathur spotted Kia testing a camouflaged K7 sedan in Colorado, which not only confirmed the pending facelift but also the brand’s intentions to launch the car in North America, most likely under the Cadenza nameplate.
Today, pictures of the updated K7 shot during a special presentation in South Korea made their way on local forums and websites.
The redesign of the K7 is a predictable one as it entails a new face with a lower-mounted and sleeker looking front grille, revamped headlamps and a re-styled bumper that brings the mid-size sedan in line with the brand’s latest models, such as the K9 / Quoris luxury sedan, the 2014 Forte, Carens MPV and the Cee’d / Pro_cee’d hatchbacks.
The sedan’s profile was also updated with new mirrors, front fender air vents borrowed from the K9, and thicker chrome strips on the lower part of the doors. At the back, the K7 sports a newly designed set of tail lamps together with a re-sculptured bumper and oval exhaust pipes.
The Korean media made word of an updated interior as well, but at this time, we do not have any images of the car’s cabin.
The K7 is expected to launch in Korea next month, while the North American Cadenza is rumored to arrive in the market in the first half of 2013, positioned above the Optima and likely offered with a 293hp, 3.3-liter V6 connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.
Photo Credits: Bobaedreamcar
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