Kia is finishing the next generation Optima development (also called K5), and the car will debut during 2015 (not confirmed if it will be in Detroit in January, or in New York in April).
[ads id=”4″ style=”float:left;padding:9px;”]This project is a very difficult task for Kia engineers and Peter Schreyer’s design team, how to improve one of the most beautiful and succesful Kia models ever designed, and also lead K-series sales in South Korea.
The new Kia Optima will feature more sharp design, a better interior quality and an engine choice between petrol, diesel (in Europe), hybrid and for the first time, a plug-in hybrid model (this car will be available during 2016).
The design sticks closely to the current MY2015 Optima, including a wide “tiger nose” grille connected with the headlights from side to side and a wider taillights at the rear end.
The petrol model will have more aggressive and sporty air intakes in the front bumper, while the hybrid models get a closed front grille that opens automatically when cooling is required. New wheels and colour palette finished exterior updates.
The interior quality will get another step forward, like in the new generation Kia Sorento, the Optima will have new 8″ inch infotainment system larger getting all the attention from the new leather-wrapped dash.
Leather wrapped dash? Can someone explain why Schryer chose to make the interior of the Sonata a pile of plastic then? Seems a little biased to one brand no?
Well I think the leather wrapped dash is an identity of the Optima under Schreyer’s development. About the Sonata, I think that Schreyer fail with the Sonata interior, trying to do a mini-genesis interior look, but without the same quality.
No.
The leather-wrapped dash usually means a dashboard with leather accents.
It’s likely that the leather will come with the Optima SXL, the highest trim which costs ~$34k.
“Wide “tiger nose” grille connected with the headlights from side to side”. Unless we are talking about a new Sorento/Sedona style grill, that sounds like an extremely lazy facelift rather than a brand new generation design. If it’s anything similar to the current Optima, then that would be a huge disappointment and a bizarre design decision. Three different grill styles amongst a bunch of cars released within 3~4 years make no sense at all.
Next Optima grill should look like Cee’d/Cadenza/K900. Next Sportage grill should look like Sedona/Sorento with chunky chrome trim. The sooner the old generic Japanese look of current Optima/Sportage disappear the better.
what are you talking about. Kia has a more consistent a defined brand look compared to any other brand. The tiger nose is an evolution and you should expect it to look like the k900 and cee’d. look at all kia cars released in the past 2-3 years. and current optima has an old generic Japanese look???? You realize that the optima is the benchmark for all other manufacturers. we look nothing like the Japanese product. the Japanese are complacent and boring while trying to appeal to every market Optima is strong and bold…..just look at the awards they are all for exterior appeal (Red dot design, IF product design, design award automotive exterior) get your facts straight before you troll there “Jimbo”
Easy there, Don Quixote. What’s putting my handle in quotes supposed to mean? Is it an insult? Are you being patronising? Questioning whether I’m a real person? How old are you? 12?
Did even you bother to read the article? No you did not. I actually quoted it. Explain to me how the hell “connected with the headlights from side to side” is similar to Cee’d and K900? I’m a Cee’d owner. I should know.
Recent spy shots and renders as well as this article indicate that the next Optima will keep its style of front grill. That means KIA will have three separate front grill design in its range, streamlined Cee’d/K900/Cadenza, bulky and strong looking Sorento/Sedona and the same old Optima grill (and presumably, though hopefully not, the next Sportage).
Current gen Optima/Sportage are 2010/2011 cars. Meaning the queues came from 2007~08 designs long before the final production cars (it’s 2014, we’re discussing the 2016 Optima). Just about all generic Japanese cars at the time had a headlight-to-headlight grill back then.
I’m agree with you, but unfortunately I’m pretty sure that this Optima will have a more conservative look than the precedent. We only can wait to the final result
If anything, the Optima is a German design. As it should be, since it was designed by Peter Shreyer. I don’t see any Japanese influence in here.
Please don’t cut the horsepower or torque. Increase it!!! Cut in power will be shunned like the 2015 Sonata here in America.
I think that the new Optima will have the same powertrain, and unfortunately the same power of the All-New Sonata. This lower power is to benefite the fuel economy due to more weight “thanks” to the use of high-strength sheet metal (more safety for passengers).
The 1.6T Eco Sonata with the DCT, tho, has been getting rave reviews.
Do you understand why they cut the hp/torque numbers?
Driveability.
Every Car reviewer has said that this refined engine tune has not only made the driving more refined, but also feels faster in that the torque curve is pretty much linear throughout driving.
Even the most popular Sonata variant, with the 2.4L I4 only lost 15 horsepower, but still has the same horsepower as the comparable Accord.
Drivability BS.
Have you even test-driven the new Sonata?
Drivability is much refined, with torque in the actual usable range.
Yes they’re slower.
Wouldn’t mind if the front end picked up some cue from the Pro_Cee’d GT, but most definitely need to keep the sharp, aggressive front-end (Audi has really started to do so with their newer front fascias).
Along with a nicer interior, what Kia really needs to do is to tune(esp. the steering feel/feedback) the new Optima more so along the sporty end to really differentiate it from the Sonata.