Drew Dowdell

I don't believe so. I don't want to sound all fan-boy-like but why in the hell so people buy their stuff, for the most part???? I know none of it is junk but it's all just about out classed by everything else because of how stagnant they let their stuff get. Their bread and butter Ram 1500 is actually just getting old at this point. The other two just seem so much better overall to me. The LX cars are still great and get excellent fuel economy for their size... only the Avalon beats them in my experience, but the Avalon has other downsides. The 200S and 200C are excellent as well as long as you're not shopping for cubic feet of passenger room. And even though the Journey is old, they've kept it fairly updated... it's the only vehicle of that size with a V6 (plus if you like the power, minus if you're looking for fuel economy) and it is one of the least expensive vehicles you can get with a 3rd row unless you go with a Mitsubishi. The 4-cylinder is meh, but there's nothing inherently bad about the car.

My issue with this setup is that it's bound to be among the slowest in its segment due to weight. The base V6 is going to be slower than a Taurus V6 and probably the CT6 Turbo-4. The 2.7 V6 is going to be lower than a CT6 V6 and probably most of the equivalent imports, and even the 400hp job is going to fall behind the CT6, the Koreans, and most of the Euros. And I'm not talking about 0.01 seconds behind like SMK likes to make seem important... it's probably going to be close to a full second behind most of these cars in some matchups.

I do love those wheels though...

An easily recycled material! Just like every Navigator design thus far! I wonder if switching to Aluminum will allow them to drop down to the steel-body Escalade in weight.

Navigator is going aluminum.

Until recently, mini-vans have been low-margin sales due to needing to sell at discount prices compared to relatively similar crossovers. If you were GM and had the choice between selling a Traverse at $30k base or a $25k base Venture that would be virtually technically identical... which would you choose? only with the Pacifica and the Japanese mini-vans have manufacturers managed to move minivans up in price equal to the crossovers.

Dropping the Caprice/SS means abandoning (again) the Police market. They aren't doing that well trying to move Tahoe PPVs. Police sales are profitable. SS sales are cheap gravy (it costs a badge and they go on the same boat with the Caprices) Epsilon Impala wouldn't cut it as a police vehicle and would get eaten by the AWD Ecoboost Taurus. I feel that GM has some plans in this segment and that either Alpha or Omega is involved.

The Chinese seem to like extended length versions of smaller cars... but extending an ATS 3 inches does not make it CTS sized because it doesn't have the width. A CTS stretched 3 inches doesn't make it CT6 sized because it doesn't have the width. BMW makes extended length 5-series in China.

Or 80% of a W-Body generation.... But seriously, no most car platforms have a run of about 10 - 15 years with visual refreshes in between. Tesla does rolling updates without waiting for the change of the model year and focuses more on tech features than visual stuff.

You well exceed the stated range on the original Volt too if you were in ideal conditions. It's not that hard to do actually. On a 70 degree day, start at Blue Mountain on the PA Turnpike and drive east at 65 mph, you could probably coast into Harrisburg 65 miles away without taking a sip of gasoline in any of these cars.

Gas is too cheap. Mini is already floundering. Fiat stalled before it started. SMART looks pretty dumb. Scion is dead. Why would any brand manager want to dip their toe in that water?

I would expect the CT6 to get the range they publish on a 70 degree day and less as the temperature varies further from that center point. Keep in mind that as temperatures move to the opposite extremes, the HVAC system has to run to compensate, and that costs miles of range. It doesn't matter if it is a Cadillac, Chevy, Tesla, or Benz.....Dems da facts.

Last name of a co-worker who happened to be IMing me while I was writing this....

Kia has been trying to break into the premium sedan market with limited success since 2003, first with the Amanti and then with a new try in 2013 with the Kia Cadenza, neither of which sold well. In spite of being on sale for three years, Kia has only sold about 25,000 Cadenzas in the U.S. in total. The Cadenza is Kia's version of the Hyundai Azera. At the New York International Auto Show, Kia unveiled the second generation, 2017 Kia Cadenza. In the 2017 Cadenza is a new, stronger and lighter body structure that helps keep out sound and provides a quiet driving experience. Powering the Cadenza is a revised version of Kia's 3.3 liter V6 producing (a preliminary) 290 horsepower and routing power to the front wheels via Kia's first 8-speed automatic that was developed in-house. Interior and exterior updates abound with a focus on quiet and comfort. There will be two grilles offered depending on trim line. The butterfly cross hatch similar to other Kia models will be the look on the lower trims, while a toothy blade grille, reminiscent of a concave Buick grille, will be featured on higher-end Cadenzas. The 2017 goes on sale later in 2016 with pricing to be announced in a few months. Second-Generation Cadenza Boasts Luxury Refinements with Expressive Styling, Advanced Technology, and Refined Powertrain New body structure is stronger, yet lighter and more rigid for a more enjoyable driving experience All-new Cadenza takes its sophistication to greater heights with beautifully crafted interior Kia’s first FWD eight-speed automatic transmission improves driving dynamics and efficiency NEW YORK, March 23, 2016 – The Big Apple today is playing host to the world debut of the all-new 2017 Kia Cadenza at the New York International Auto Show. The stunningly beautiful Cadenza improves upon all the elements that made its predecessor an award-winning success, boasting a precisely crafted cabin, cutting edge technology for connectivity and driver assistance, a stronger body structure, and powertrain enhancements for a more premium experience behind the wheel. “The new Cadenza adds an extra dose of excitement to the large-car segment with its striking, aggressively handsome looks and premium refinements,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning, Kia Motors America. “Everything you see and touch in the Cadenza’s cabin has been improved, but it’s underneath where the Cadenza truly shines with a stiffer and lighter chassis, eight-speed transmission and vastly improved driving dynamics.” The second-generation Cadenza is set to go on-sale in late 2016, and pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch date. Elegant and Confident Exterior Designed at Kia’s California design studio, birthplace of the unforgettable Track’ster and GT4 Stinger concepts as well as the iconic Soul, the Cadenza’s precision-machined exterior exudes confidence, with clean lines offset by expressive details. It all starts with Kia Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer’s oft-quoted philosophy focusing on “the simplicity of the straight line,” which is defined by a single gestural contour that spans the length of the car, creating a sleek profile. This lineation visually links matching Z-shaped lighting signatures in the headlights and LED tail lights, affording the all-new Cadenza a more distinctive road presence, day or night. The overall impression is one of modernity and power, which is achieved by visually shearing away surface area to create a more angular form. Head on, the Cadenza is more expressive thanks to the newly designed front fascia. While the signature Kia “tiger nose” grille is still an unmistakable design trait, it has evolved into a new hexagonal shape that emphasizes the Cadenza’s visual width with lines extending underneath the headlights. But the more substantial change to the grille is its distinct concave form, which curves in toward the engine bay, giving the Cadenza its handsomely chiseled face. Unlike other cars in the segment, the Cadenza is available with two different grilles. Lower trim models will come with the “Diamond Butterfly” front grille that features the same three-dimensional pattern as several siblings within the Kia lineup, but has its own unique appearance thanks to the concave shape. Higher trim models will come with the “Intaglio” grille, featuring vertically oriented, faceted blades. LED technology inside the “piano key” taillights helps create visual depth while also complementing the Z-shape lighting signature. Other thoughtful details include the chrome garnish that extends through the trunk lid, accentuating the Cadenza’s wide stance, and tasteful chrome accents on the side mirrors and rear quarter windows. Exterior styling is further enhanced by optimized dimensions. While the new Cadenza has the same overall length as the outgoing model, it’s slightly wider and lower in height. The wheelbase has been stretched slightly, contributing to nearly a half-inch of increased legroom for rear passengers. Achieving Cadenza’s sportier profile was achieved by extending the roofline rearward more than two inches, while maintaining rear headroom and slightly improving trunk space. Exquisitely Comfortable Interior Space The interior is thoughtfully redesigned with even higher quality materials than the preceding model and higher levels of craftsmanship throughout. Like the exterior, the Cadenza’s soft interior contours are offset by sheared surfaces. Kia designers visually widened the Cadenza’s interior space with a wraparound dashboard that flows into the door panels and features real stitching. The door panels themselves have been adorned with higher quality soft-touch materials, while soft leather envelopes the Cadenza’s cabin space. Nappa leather is available with quilted seat bolsters accented by diamond shaped stitching that dresses up the Cadenza’s already attractive cabin. For 2017, buyers have greater opportunity to customize their Cadenza, as a dark brown interior color has been added, bringing the total number of color combinations to four. Like the outgoing model, the White Package remains an option, but it has been upgraded with a new black wood-grain-style trim finished with a pearlescent sheen. Improvements were made throughout to ensure a more pleasant driving experience. The driver’s seat has been lowered for a sportier and more stable feeling, while engineers extended the seat cushion slightly and developed an innovative cushion extension mechanism that slides and rotates, making it easier for drivers to find their comfort zone behind the wheel. The heating elements used for the seat warmers have been reengineered to more evenly distribute warmth, and as a Kia first, the seat heaters now utilize a smart control system to automatically lower the heater operating mode after a certain period of time. The Driving Experience The 2017 Cadenza is built upon a strong foundation with a body structure composed of more than 50 percent Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) — more than twice the amount used in the outgoing model. Engineers are targeting an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A driver’s knee airbag helps in this regard and brings the total number of airbags in the vehicle to nine. The first Kia to be sold in the U.S. under the DRIVE WISE sub-brand, the Cadenza offers cutting-edge driver assistance features1 such as Advanced Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Warning. Another Kia first is the Smart Blind Spot Detection System1 which senses unintentional drifting toward an adjacent vehicle and automatically brakes the opposite side front wheel to help maintain the vehicle’s intended course. Side body panels are stronger and feature increased tensile strength steel to improve Cadenza’s dent resistance. Thanks to the increased use of structural adhesive and hot-stamped components, structural stiffness has been increased by more than 35 percent, which also improves driving dynamics. The overall chassis is lighter, thanks to the use of aluminum instead of steel in areas like the front steering knuckles, and engineers retuned the front and rear subframes with larger bushings to improve lateral stiffness and NVH characteristics. Further improving the ride are Amplitude Selective Damping (ASD) shock absorbers that maximize ride comfort without sacrificing stability. An extra valve in the damper provides the appropriate damping force according to the road surface, while the new shock absorber now includes a Hydraulic Rebound Stopper (HRS), which works to provide a smoother ride over harsh or broken surfaces. The retuned suspension has improved the Cadenza’s lift coefficient (the up-and-down forces exerted on a moving vehicle), and the end result is better high-speed stability and handling. Steering is more responsive than before with better on-center feel thanks to a new 32-bit Electronic Control Unit (ECU), replacing the 16-bit processor in the outgoing model. The 2017 Cadenza’s confident ride and handling are complemented by improvements in NVH. Additional acoustic absorbing laminate in the front windows and windshield reduces wind noise, while a full floorpan undercover quells road noise. Together with increased insulation around the A-pillars, NVH levels have been substantially reduced, resulting in a library-quiet interior. The floorpan undercover also helps improve the Cadenza’s aerodynamic performance, along with front wheel air curtains that reduce drag around the tires. Overall, the coefficient of drag has improved from 0.29 to 0.28. Newly designed 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels may be shod with available Michelin®2 tires (P245/45R18 or P245/40R19). Behind the wheels, larger brake rotors improve overall braking performance and feel. The front brakes have been increased from 11 to 12 inches, while the rears have grown marginally from 11 to 11.1 inches, helping to reduce stopping distances. Harmonious and Modern Cockpit Brimming with technology, the cockpit is designed to provide a more harmonious human-machine interface with ergonomically intelligent design, intuitive controls, and a suite of enhanced convenience features making the driving experience enjoyable and effortless. New to the 2017 Cadenza is the Head Up Display (HUD)3, which shows key driver information such as speed and turn-by-turn navigation directions on the windshield directly in the driver’s line of sight. In addition, the Surround View Monitor1 has been updated with improved software and resolution that gives the driver a clearer birds-eye view of the area around the vehicle, with newly added reverse guidelines offering confidence when backing into confined spaces. Other features new to the Cadenza include Smart Trunk, which conveniently opens the trunk lid if the sensor detects the key fob for more than three seconds, and a wireless smartphone charger. The latest generation of Kia’s UVO system featuring Android Auto4 and Apple® CarPlay5 is standard, while a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon® system featuring Clari-Fi™6 music restoration technology is an option. Efficient and Durable Performance Underneath the hood is a revised version of Kia’s 3.3-liter V6 engine, which has been retuned for improved fuel economy. With an estimated 290 hp on tap (exact power output and fuel economy figures will be released closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date), the engine sends power to the front wheels via Kia’s first FWD-based eight-speed automatic transmission. The newly developed transmission is highly efficient, providing quick and crisp shifts for a more enjoyable driving experience that will set it apart from its competitors. Despite having two extra cogs, the eight-speed transmission, which was designed in-house, is lighter than the unit in the outgoing model. Kia engineers also focused on durability and reliability during the development of the all-new Cadenza. Running the V6 at full power and under full-load conditions for 41 consecutive days equates to more than 100,000 miles of real-world use, providing owners with the confidence that the 2017 Cadenza is built for the long haul. View full article