The Kia Cadenza sedan has been on sale in the US since 2017, so the time seems right for the sedan to receive a mid-cycle refresh. Kia recently teased the forthcoming 2020 K7, which is South Korea's version of the Cadenza, and now the covers have come off the facelifted sedan. While the US version of the Cadenza hasn't been revealed yet, it should look identical to the new 2020 K7. Sales of the full-size sedan have been woefully slow in the US with only 4,500 units sold last year, so we're hoping the updated design can entice more buyers.

In terms of styling, the 2020 K7 has been given some welcome design changes. It's even been rebranded as the K7 Premier to show that it's not your typical mid-cycle facelift. The changes are so drastic that you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a new next-generation model. At the front, the redesigned K7 sports a larger, more aggressive grille and sleeker LED headlights. There's also a redesigned rear bumper and taillights spanning the entire width of the car. It all helps to make the Cadenza look considerably more sporty.

Inside, the luxurious cabin has also been given a major overhaul. New tech includes a 12.3-inch infotainment system with navigation and a fully digital instrument cluster. Elsewhere, the interior features a redesigned center console and multifunctional steering wheel, as well as repositioned air vents and an updated gear lever.

Kia says the K7 Premier's combines high-quality materials with improved refinement revised sound insulation of the windows and the underbody that results in a quieter cabin. Safety systems include a Blind-spot View Monitor, Lane Following Assist, navigation-based Smart Cruise Control Curve, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, and Parking Collision Avoidance Assist.

Under the hood, the K7 Premier gains a new Smartstream 2.5-liter GDi gasoline engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. A 3.0-liter V6, a 2.4-liter hybrid, and a 2.2-liter diesel are also available, but no performance specifications have been released yet. The Kia K7 Premier will go on sale in Korea this month, but there's no word yet when the 2020 Cadenza will arrive in the US.