Photo: Kia
Did you guys know that Volkswagen was considering making a Passat convertible for the US market? That idea was scrapped in favor of a topless next-gen Golf, but it proves big companies have taken a serious look at making a mid-sized car with a fabric top.
In a way, this SEMA custom project proves we’re right. Even though we don’t know if Kia was the one who had the idea in the first place, they still backed up the transformation of the brand-new 2016 Optima sedan into the only convertible of its kind.
Kia and Hyundai are undoubtedly the companies that invested the most money in the SEMA show the past few years, although Ford is also doing a decent job.
According to the manufacturer, this one-off tuning project is inspired by the Florida A1A highway. You can almost see it cruising it on a lazy summer afternoon with the stereo cranked up and a couple of girls screaming in the back.
By cutting the roof, the customizers took most of the structural rigidity out of the body. To compensate for that, they “discretely” installed a tubular steel frame to brace the body.
Besides the teal paint job, the sedan-turned-convertible also features several chrome details, including two new grilles at the front that look like something Forgiato manufactured. 20-inch polished chrome wheels are installed at all four corners and sit lower to the bodywork thanks to Ksport coilover suspension.
Of course, the real talking point is going to be the rear doors, which have a suicide/coach configuration. Instead of opening towards the front, they have a custom hinge in the opposite corner and open a la Rolls-Royce.
The cabin is re-trimmed in light cream leather and also features two new bucket seats separated by a custom center console. As for the 2-liter turbo engine, we’ve been told that it’s been fitted with a custom exhaust, but more performance upgrades could be announced at the SEMA show next week.
Kia and Hyundai are undoubtedly the companies that invested the most money in the SEMA show the past few years, although Ford is also doing a decent job.
According to the manufacturer, this one-off tuning project is inspired by the Florida A1A highway. You can almost see it cruising it on a lazy summer afternoon with the stereo cranked up and a couple of girls screaming in the back.
By cutting the roof, the customizers took most of the structural rigidity out of the body. To compensate for that, they “discretely” installed a tubular steel frame to brace the body.
Besides the teal paint job, the sedan-turned-convertible also features several chrome details, including two new grilles at the front that look like something Forgiato manufactured. 20-inch polished chrome wheels are installed at all four corners and sit lower to the bodywork thanks to Ksport coilover suspension.
Of course, the real talking point is going to be the rear doors, which have a suicide/coach configuration. Instead of opening towards the front, they have a custom hinge in the opposite corner and open a la Rolls-Royce.
The cabin is re-trimmed in light cream leather and also features two new bucket seats separated by a custom center console. As for the 2-liter turbo engine, we’ve been told that it’s been fitted with a custom exhaust, but more performance upgrades could be announced at the SEMA show next week.
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