Photo: SB-Medien
The current generation Kia Optima is perhaps the most commercially successful car offered by the Korean car company. But it's received more nip and tuck than Mickey Rourke, so it's time to retire the current generation and make room for an all-new midsize sedan.
Two test prototypes for the 2016 model year Optima emerged simultaneously for testing, one in America, where it underwent hot weather testing in the desert, and another one on the famous Nurburgring track.
Rumor has it that Kia is using the same new platform developed for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata sedan. This means more high tensile steel for added rigidity and a bit of weight reduction. New engines will also be offered, tuned for efficiency rather than outright power and performance. They will include a 2.5-liter and 2-liter turbo in America, as well as a hybrid marketed globally. European sales will continue to revolve around the 1.7-liter diesel, mated to both manual and automatic gearboxes.
Everything will be wrapped in an all-new Kia design language, which has already been previewed by the all-new Sorento. Looks have always been the Optima's biggest selling point, its sharp lines finding many fans in the otherwise bland midsize sedan segment. The first photos of the interior also tell us the Optima is moving upmarket, offering more features and improving its perceived build quality. The touchscreen display in the middle of the dash is absolutely huge, while the layout of the buttons is different to what Kia has accustomed us to, mimicking some German cars.
Rumor has it that Kia is using the same new platform developed for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata sedan. This means more high tensile steel for added rigidity and a bit of weight reduction. New engines will also be offered, tuned for efficiency rather than outright power and performance. They will include a 2.5-liter and 2-liter turbo in America, as well as a hybrid marketed globally. European sales will continue to revolve around the 1.7-liter diesel, mated to both manual and automatic gearboxes.
Everything will be wrapped in an all-new Kia design language, which has already been previewed by the all-new Sorento. Looks have always been the Optima's biggest selling point, its sharp lines finding many fans in the otherwise bland midsize sedan segment. The first photos of the interior also tell us the Optima is moving upmarket, offering more features and improving its perceived build quality. The touchscreen display in the middle of the dash is absolutely huge, while the layout of the buttons is different to what Kia has accustomed us to, mimicking some German cars.
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