Kia Opirus

Kia
Kia Opirus (2003-2007)
Opirus
Production period:	2003-2010
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.5–3.8 liters (149–196 kW)
Length:	4979-5000 mm
Width:	1850 mm
Height:	1485 mm
Wheelbase :	2800 mm
Empty weight :	1850-1897 kg
Previous model	Kia Enterprise
successor	Kia Cadenza Kia K9

The Kia Opirus ( Hangeul : 기아 오피러스) is a sedan from the Korean car brand Kia , which is assigned to the upper middle class segment . The model name is derived from the Mesopotamian city ​​of Ophir and, according to Kia, is intended to convey associations of luxury and style. In North America, however, it was sold under the name Amanti .

Model history

Rear view

The Kia Opirus was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in spring 2003, and it was available on the German market from October 2003.

Within the Kia range of passenger cars, the Opirus takes on the role of the brand's largest model to date. With entry prices starting at € 39,900 (as of May 2007), it is also the brand's most expensive model to date.

However, it is not the first Kia model in this segment, as upper middle-class vehicles were available as early as 1992 with the Kia Potentia , and from 1997 with the Kia Enterprise .

Both models, however, were primarily intended for the (South) Korean market and were not exported to Europe.

Facelift:

In early 2007, Kia redesigned its flagship. As part of this facelift , the large radiator grille was proportioned differently, but the four-eye face (two xenon headlights on each side) was only slightly changed. The rear became a bit more rounded and received vertical taillights, the interior instead of the root wood a piano lacquer look. The center console has also been rounded off at the top instead of the "canopy" of the original model. At the same time, the curb weight was reduced from 1897 kg to 1850 kg.

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  Kia Opirus (2007-2010)

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  Rear view

On the safety side, the passive safety has been improved, whereby the facelifted Opirus achieved the best side crash result in its class in the American IIHS test . In addition, the Mitsubishi-based 3.5-l V6 engine with 149 kW (203 hp) was replaced by a 3.8-l V6 engine with 196 kW (266 hp) developed in-house. With this engine, the vehicle also achieved the Euro4 standard.

Production of the Opirus ended in spring 2010.

particularities

The Opirus was produced in the Kia plant in Hwasung. It is considered to be the first vehicle of the Kia brand, which was developed on a common platform after the takeover of Kia by Hyundai . This shortened development time (22 months) and reduced development costs (167 million euros).

Two-tone paint

Optical borrowings from European models, such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class or the Jaguar S-Type , the car cannot deny, especially at the front. Another characteristic feature is the optional two-tone paintwork, which is also available on earlier Kia models. In some markets from 2007 the model was also equipped with cameras at the rear and for both front sides in order to make the dimensions more manageable for the driver, especially at house corners. Technically, the Opirus components, available exclusively as a four-door sedan with front-wheel drive , share with the Centennial model (with rear-wheel drive ) from the sister company Hyundai , which is not available in Germany , since the model update with the Grandeur . The combined consumption of 10.9 liters of regular gasoline (91 octane) per 100 km is below the average. In 2009, the Opirus was the rarest newly registered car in Germany and the rarest newly registered Kia model in North America.

Web links

Commons : Kia Opirus  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• An article of the time about the Kia Opirus

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Cars without a successor (Fig. 25) on Autobild.de (accessed on August 4, 2010)
2. ↑ Crash test result Opirus 2007
3. ↑ Driving report for the model premiere ( Memento of the original from September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
4. ↑ The ten rarest new registrations in 2009
5. ↑ Registration numbers Kia USA