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Europe-bound Kia Optima Pictures Surface Online, Debut Should Take Place In Frankfurt

We've had our fair share of encounters with the 2016 Kia Optima this year, consumed while the car was still a test mule and when the first official picture of the sedan washed ashore on the Internet.
Kia Optima 5 photos
Photo: Kia
Kia Optima Euro-specKia Optima Euro-specKia Optima Euro-specKia Optima Euro-spec
Today is also about images, but with the Euro-spec Kia Optima, as a batch of photos were published by autoblog.nl. They look like official photos to us, which means Kia will operate a full reveal in the coming days, as it usually happens in this type of situation.

The US-spec Kia Optima made its debut at the 2015 New York International Motor Show and by comparing the two cars, it's easy to spot that differences come from the way designers shaped the front and rear bumpers. Also, taillights graphics are different, but not by much, and that's about it.

Europeans will first get it in sedan guise, but Kia will not offer an estate wagon drawing inspiration from the Sportspace prototype we saw in the metal at this year's Geneva Motor Show. The reason? They think it will cannibalize the Sorento SUV.

The sedan's wheelbase is 10 mm longer compared to the model it replaces, but the new Optima also comes with an increased width (by 25 mm) and augmented height (also by 10 mm).

Boot space is rated at 510 liters, but we can also offer insight on what kind of engine will work from under the hood.

Word is the Optima will launch with Kia's 1.7-liter CRDi diesel engine capable of delivering 141 horsepower and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque. The unit can be mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, depending on the client's preference.

In the petrol camp, Kia Optima's main weapons of choice should be the 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged mills. What we don't know is how much power they will deliver to European customers, but in the US, for example, the 1.6 has 178 hp while the 2.0 is good for 247 horsepower.
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