As we have advanced, Kia Motors will apply four-wheel drive (AWD) to the K5 North American model. According to the U.S. EPA application, Kia Motors recently completed fuel efficiency certification for the new K5 1.6T. Also, as we told you guys a few months ago, the Optima nickname is dead and is replaced by K5.
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The North American K5 1.6 T-GDi AWD combines a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder gasoline turbo engine with an 8-speed automatic transmission to deliver a maximum output of 180 horsepower and a maximum torque of 27kgm. The driving method is four-wheel drive, and the combined fuel efficiency based on EPA is 12.3km / ℓ (29mpg), downtown 11km / ℓ (26mpg), and highway 14.4km / ℓ (34mpg).
Compared to the existing Optima (FF), which uses a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gasoline turbo engine and a 7-speed automatic transmission, the new K5’s fuel economy is 0.8km / ℓ (2mpg), downtown 0.4km / ℓ (1mpg), and highway 1.2km. / ℓ (3mpg) is a reduced value. The domestic combined fuel efficiency of the new K5 1.6T is 13.2km / ℓ based on an 18-inch wheel (31mpg) so the difference of having AWD is just 2mpg average.
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Kia Motors changes the export name Optima, which has been used in the North American market for about 20 years, to the same K5 as South Korea. Some foreigners predicted that the name of Forte (K3), Cadenza (K7), and K900 (K9) would be changed to be the same as that of South Korea, along with Optima’s name change. North American K5 models are produced in the United States.
Meanwhile, Kia Motors is preparing to launch a high-performance K5 GT in addition to the K5 1.6T AWD. The K5 GT combines a Smartstream-G 2.5 T-GDi engine with an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission to produce 290 horsepower and a maximum torque of 43 kgm. It features GT-specific designs, such as the GT emblem and dual twin exhaust tips.
At the moment the AWD option is available for 1.6T and we are not sure if it’s going to be released for the GT version too. The new K5 will be officially launched in the North American market later this year.
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