18 June 2001: Kia is to introduce a new large flagship car to the UK next month, aiming to take the brand to a new level of refinement and luxury. The Magentis replaces the Clarus which has been the brand's flagship up to now.

Kia is using a 2.5-litre V6 engine and will provide two trim levels in the UK, but if it the car introduced to Ireland it is more likely that a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder alternative would be the powerplant. The all-aluminum 2.5-litre DOHC 166 bhp V6 offers the same fuel consumption as the Clarus 2.0-litre 4-cylinder car and comes with Sports H-Matic automatic transmission which allows gears to be shifted manually without the use of a clutch.

The car is within 10mm of the length of the new Mondeo and there's a high level of standard equipment. The safety specification of Magentis includes a 5 mph bumper, which offers four times more protection against minor damage than a 2.5 mph bumper.

Active safety includes ABS with EBD (electronic brake force distribution) and a traction control system (TCS) is fitted to the SE.

Kia cars have recently been reintroduced to Ireland by Harris Auto Ltd. TW