Kia is finishing the next generation Optima development (also called K5), and the next generation codenamed as “JF” will debut during the first quarter of 2015 (the car will be showcased at the New York AutoShow held 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. (Kia is currently losing market share every month in its local market)
That’s why the new Kia Optima will feature a more sharper design (will premiere Kia’s new sedans design way, and will be followed by the next generation K7/Cadenza in 2016), a better interior quality and an engine choice between petrol, diesel (in Europe), hybrid (available in late 2015) 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. Speaking with Kia’s design team, the car won’t look like a latest Sorento and Sedona models, because these cars have a different target than sedans.
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. The Optima will use the same chassis as the new Sonata LF, this means a higher use of high-strenght steel, more than 50%, but more weight.
Hope Kia engineers can handle with this and the next generation Optima doesn’t have the same power decrease like the Sonata to keep fuel economy. What do you think?
I think this is your third article hinting at a completely different front end design than Cee’d/K4/Cadenza/K9 and Sedona/Sorento. I did not like the render you guys posted a few months ago (I don’t think anybody did!). It looked like a lazy facelift rather than a new major redesign. But the more I read and the more I dig for spy photographs, the more that render and your descriptions sound close to what the final design would look like.
That would be a HUGE disappointment. Hyundai only offers i40 to compete with Optima here and that has been a troublesome car so far. They have no plans to sell Sonata, which is a shame. I’m in the market for either a £30k-ish sedan or a small SUV. Being a Ceed owner, I can’t think of any competitors that offer the range of gadgets and gizmos in my car for the same price.
But if the next Optima looks anything like the rendered prediction you guys posted, it’ll definitely be off my list. I would rather pay a bit extra and buy a facelifted Mazda 6 and live without all the fancy gadgets. Alternatively, I would wait for the next Sportage. If it’s the same design as Sorento/Sedona (I really really really REALLY hope so), and if the UK version of new ix35 still has a poor list of goodies like the current range, I’d go for Sportage.
We always try to give you guys the most reliable information we can get, even tho you guys criticize us with poor judgment. I’ll say it’s to early to judge the car yet, give it some time until the car is unveil and see what offers to new customers.
Wasn’t criticising you guys. I’m addicted to this blog. I was just saying that if the actual final design is like the render you guys posted a while back (and all evidence suggest that it most likely is), I’d be very disappointed and will cross Optima off my list.
I’m glad you like our work. Hopefully the new Optima will raise Kia once again because they need another big hit again.
Kia don’t cut the power. Increase it or you will lose customers!!!!
Are you refering to the Sonata hp drop?
Yes, don’t drop the horsepower and torque like the sonata.
“this means a higher use of high-strenght steel, more than 50%, but more weight.”
I think you meant to type ‘less’ weight, instead of “more weight”. There are so many mistakes in your articles.
Like in the 2015 Sonata, the use of high-strenght steel increased the final weight of the car, that’s why Hyundai cutted the power to get “better” fuel efficiency.
I believe he’s correct. More steel = strength but at the cost of weight. Thus the reason why he ends the article with a possible comparison with the new Sonata’s (same chassis) lack of power.
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First of all, a happy new year to all Kia supporters in the world.
Just wait until Kia uncovers the new optima with technical details.
This forum almost gets like european forums where everybody gets rude rapidly. And this leads to their temporary continent which is at the bottom these days because they always regarded the rest of the world as inferior. And without respect even to themselves they pay a high price now with olderness and lack of technology. Europe was only good as the asians were on the fields to work. But as the asian dragon got educated they torn apart them in the air. Asia and even America have pity with them. Otherwise they would eliminate europe financially in less than 1 Year. Where are european LCD TVs , Handys, clean car transmissions, where water comes out of the exhaust? These things all come from Asia and europeans cant live with that and get very nervous these days.
Asian and Kia mentality is the best mentality, calm and kind but progressive.