Getting ready to debut its tiger-style in New York is the Kia Optima or, in other markets' case, the Magentis. Set to go on sale this Fall (Spring 2011 in Europe), the new Optima is clearly light years ahead of the outgoing model in regards to looks.
Big news other than the leap forward in design is that, much like the recently-debuted Sportage, the new model is "longer, wider, and lower"; that seems to be the name of the game.
This, along with its longer wheelbase, will provide more space in order to go up against D-segment top dogs like the Passat, Camry, and Mondeo.
Considering that the Optima is essentially Kia's tasty take on cousin Hyundai's Sonata, we can probably expect the same power trains and hybrid systems in the future. For any official specs, we'll have to wait until Kia's ready (but that shouldn't be long).
Peter Schreyer, Kia Chief Design Officer and owner of a very emotionless title, says, "The next generation Optima possesses the power to surprise." Couldn't have said it better myself.
Thanks for making my job all the easier, Mr. Shreyer. In regards to that new look that's putting ToyoHonda to shame: 잘만들었다.
Oh, and check out the gallery below to see just how different this new Optima is compared to the decidedly outdated old model.
- By Phil Alex
2011 KIA OPTIMA SEDAN
____________________________________________________________________
2010 KIA OPTIMA SEDAN (CURRENT N.A.-SPEC MODEL)
34 Comments:
I can see lots of styling elements from many manufacturers but it looks all Kia original! Nice job Kia! Keep it up!
If foster kia can read this, piss off.
nasty in a bad way
Yeah, that's nice to stimulate sleep. It has parts that make it look like a Camry and an Accord combined with Kia's beaver tooth.
This thing have the embodiment/ proportions of a luxury car.
Carguy123
Are you guys serious? I find it very nice. Sleek and not overdone
Now I see Kia design is much better than its cousin Hyundai and also most of the Japanese brands, compete head to head with Mazda...The only last thing they have to change is the Logo. Then it'll be the most stylish car of all Asian brands.
kia designs are not better but different for hyundai much more conservative than hyundai. hyundai is beginning to make concept cars for the street mazda will design a wavy concept but not release it hyundai will
I still feel that Hyundai's curve is a bit overdone and becomes a bit too annoying. I still like the Kia's design which is close to the European's ones which is simple clean line and subtly curved like BMW/Merc/Audi...
A little bit of the new taurus but overall will do well. Hyundai/Kia is and has been for awhile here to stay and continue to grab new buyers especially from 2009 forward.
Imo...It looks like an Asian Saab... I like it...and way better looking than Camry...
I heard it will be on sale in U.S first in this summer!!!!! Not in Korea!!!
However they decide not to put Auto Parking system in 2011 Sportage because of safety problem....but I am not sure about they are gonna put Auto Parking system in 2011 Optima(K5).
bumper-golf 6
bonnet-BMW
led lights on bumper-MERCeDES-BENZ
rear lights-accord bmw
side profile-saab/lexus
front lights-audi and the grill looks so shit
scrap this shit thing
and its a copy car
More proof that KIA has adopted a Marque identifier in it's current Grille Fascia look. Nice and clean.
to bumper=golf 6 comment,
it has 4 wheels = copy
it has headlights = copy
it has foglights too! = copy
it has seats = copy
it has doors = copy
you sound like an idiot = copy
Nice design knock off from all of the rest of the automakers.
It simply looks better than anything else in its class, including the new Hyundai Sonata. I also agree with another poster that Kia should get a new logo. They should however beware of a too-trendy logo: A logo is for the long haul.
BTW, with the current sudden acceleration debacle, how long before Toyota gets rid of its "Sombrero" logo?
BP
I'm waiting for engines. I wish AWD would at least be an option, RWD would be awesome. Kia is on a roll lately.
I really don't understand all the hate being vented at this car for being a "copy". Are people so naieve that they believe there's actually anything original left in car styling? No matter what stylists come up with, there's a 99% chance that someone else has had the same idea before.
Do people really think Kia would employ a well respected designer like Peter Schreyer (remember, he designed the first generation Audi TT) simply to copy and paste together a collection of styling cues "copied" from other car manufacturers?
Excellent design...! Good job Peter!
"Do people really think Kia would employ a well respected designer like Peter Schreyer (remember, he designed the first generation Audi TT) simply to copy and paste together a collection of styling cues "copied" from other car manufacturers?"
Yes.
Kia is a pretty much a hack-eyed brand anyway with no redeeming qualities.
I would drive it.
Yeah most car companies have been cross copying for so long it's difficult to remember who copied who. The design language here is unquestionably Volkswagen however. See for yourself:
http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/gallery.php/d/133383-4/volkswagen-new-compact-coupe003.jpg
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/vw-golf-vi-tdi.jpg
I doesn't resemble Volkswagen design language in any way.
Sloping curved hood
Narrow horizontal grille
Strong shoulder line (German)
Side mirror design
Overall profile
Lower grille vents and fogs (functional on VAG products for intercooler though widely copied)
BTW Peter Schreyer has VAG DNA.
Perhaps too subtle for you.
...I don't think it looks like anything else...
If those whiners want to miss out on an awesome car, because it 'has x car's seats, y car's hood, z car's wheels...', go ahead. Those people should be WALKING. HOpefully they won't complain about how others have the 'same' legs...
I drive a Kia Optima (not this new one). It's a very very good car - no faults or complaints (had it for 2 years) yet, and i take good care of my car. It had a very good price than its competition (e.g. Toyota, Honda, Mitsu)... NO REGRETS AT ALL.
Anonymous » March 15, 2010
"Do people really think Kia would employ a well respected designer like Peter Schreyer (remember, he designed the first generation Audi TT) simply to copy and paste together a collection of styling cues "copied" from other car manufacturers?"
Yes.
Kia is a pretty much a hack-eyed brand anyway with no redeeming qualities.
You gotta laugh when there are such mash-brained turkeys giving their opinions...'Kia is a pretty much a hack-eyed brand...' LOL...
People who vent their spleen on Kia and Hyundai are usually wimps/ losers who need their Lexuses, BM's and Mercs to prop up their sadly defunct lives.
Get over it people, car companies take design cues from each other and combine them in new ways all the time - there's never a wholly 'original' design, just as there can never be an original fashion statement. Ideas spawn new ideas and they feed off each other. It's called progress and it comes about INCREMENTALLY. Hell, if I wanted to talk about knock-offs then Lexuses and Toyotas must take the prize for the most blatant design copies of all time (cf knock-offs of Merc grilles/interior, BMW bodylines/overhangs etc). At least this Kia looks pretty decent.
Her C-pillar has some overtone of previous Saab 9-5,and front mask reminds me of Ford Taurus. Tidy yet boring design.
I can't belive this tit!
"Hell, if I wanted to talk about knock-offs then Lexuses and Toyotas must take the prize for the most blatant design copies of all time (cf knock-offs of Merc grilles/interior, BMW bodylines/overhangs etc)"
And then he closes it up with this special olympics winner of line!
"At least this Kia looks pretty decent."
You said it! Modest and just barely adequate! The very defination of the word 'decent'.
Just because you pissed away all your school years hufffing glue and thus haven't bothered trying to expand your vocabulary beyond word that you can remember how to spell doesn't mean you even know what the mean.
Next time you want to say 'decent', associate the word with 'mediocre'. You've basicaly just shot your whole argument in the foot by calling Kia 'decent'.
You would have been better off saying 'screw your BMW's and MB'S! At least my Kia is just barely passable!"
Fuck!
"Lexus and Toyotas must take the prize for the most blantant design copies of all times"
-How does Toyota have a BMW interior!, Merc grills!,BMW bodylines....far from it. Even though Toyota is having issues right now...the world's biggest and most prestigious brand doesn't beleive in knock offs.
And this website does not highlight the good things about Toyota its always about the negative. Now thats discouraging.
"Even though Toyota is having issues right now...the world's biggest and most prestigious brand doesn't beleive in knock offs."
Nothing, absouletly nothing in the entire universe, is worthy of using the word 'prestigious '.
It's called the Kia K5 in Korea. Here's some pics from a korean blog:
http://blog.naver.com/tomato2006?Redirect=Log&logNo=10082898851
it looks pretty sweet!
...I don't think it looks like anything else...
If those whiners want to miss out on an awesome car, because it 'has x car's seats, y car's hood, z car's wheels...', go ahead. Those people should be WALKING. HOpefully they won't complain about how others have the 'same' legs...
I drive a Kia Optima (not this new one). It's a very very good car - no faults or complaints (had it for 2 years) yet, and i take good care of my car. It had a very good price than its competition (e.g. Toyota, Honda, Mitsu)... NO REGRETS AT ALL.
I own a 2012 Optima SX T-GDI, premium touring package with full infotainment package. This car outperforms ANY vehicle in the segment is SOLIDLY the class leader. It is built to compete with Honda, Toyota and others in the family car segment and blows them out of the water. The fact that most posters here are comparing a car in this segment to supposedly luxury Euro brands is amazing. It speaks VOLUMES to the quality of the car I bought and in fact pays it a compliment. The South Koreans are positioned to dominate the segments targeted. Welcome to the new reality........get used to it.
Post a Comment