}} The Cadenza uses the new
front-wheel-drive Type-N platform with
MacPherson front suspension and a
multilink rear suspension. The Cadenza was offered with three gasoline engines ranging from 165
horsepower to 290 horsepower for the 3.5-liter
Lambda. A new 2.4-liter
Theta II with
gasoline direct injection (
GDI) that produced 201 horsepower was also available. A hybrid K7 700h was available in Korea, featuring a 159 hp four cylinder engine and a 35 kW electric motor. The Kia Cadenza was designed by Kia design chief
Peter Schreyer who was chief designer at
Audi and uses Kia's corporate
Tiger Nose grille. In January 2013,
Kia announced that the Cadenza will be available in the
United States. It is Kia's version of the
Hyundai Azera. Standard features will include leather seats,
Bluetooth, a
navigation system,
Kia UVO,
alloy wheels, and other
luxury car features. This was one of five
Korean
luxury sedans sold in the
United States at the time, the other four cars being the
Hyundai Azera,
Hyundai Genesis,
Kia K900 and
Hyundai Equus. The car features
Nappa leather seats, a feature commonly found on more expensive vehicles such as those from
BMW and
Mercedes-Benz. The Nappa leather is available in three colors: black, beige, or white (the white interior requires all three packages available on the Cadenza: the Luxury, Technology, and White Interior Packages). The driver's seat is both heated and ventilated, and the passenger's seat is heated. The rear seats can also be heated. A dual sunroof is available. The car features the 3.3L, 294 horsepower V6, the most powerful engine available for the Cadenza. The engine is used in the Cadenza's platform mate, the Hyundai Azera, and is a Hyundai-built engine from the Lambda engine family.
Powertrain Gallery File:0 Kia K7 (VG) 4.jpg|Kia K7 (pre-facelift) File:KIA CADENZA (VG) China (cropped).jpg|Kia Cadenza (facelift) (China) File:2016 Kia Cadenza in Platinum Graphite, Rear Left, 08-02-2022.jpg|Kia Cadenza (facelift) (US) == Second generation (YG; 2016)==