Kia restyles its Cadenza flagship sedan

NEW YORK -- Kia has given new front and rear styling to its big, plush flagship sedan, the Cadenza.

It also now has a stiffer chassis for 2017, and a nine-speed transmission.

The changes are noticeable right up front, where Kia has been given what the brand has evolved what it called the  "tiger nose" grille into more of a hexagonal shape and made it more concave. In back, Cadenza gets new taillights have a new shape akin to piano keys.

“The new Cadenza adds an extra dose of excitement to the large-car segment with its striking, aggressively handsome looks and premium refinements,” says Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for Kia, in a statement. “Everything you see and touch in the Cadenza’s cabin has been improved."

Cadenza has some updates to its 3.3-liter V-6 engine to make it more fuel efficient. Just how efficient, Kia is not saying yet. But it will put out 290 horsepower.