First spy shots of the 2011 Kia Optima appear on the web. Stunning exterior design for Kia’s next generation mid-size sedan.
If you like spy shot reports and new Kia cars, then you definately don’t want to miss this post. Our spy report today is related to next generation mid-size Kia sedan, known as Optima in the US market, Lotze in Korea or Magentis elswhere.
KGP photography crew managed to take a few shots of a heavily camouflaged prototype of next Kia Optima, which has been spotted while undergoing hot-weather testing in the US Death Vally. These very first spy shots reveal that Optima will undergo dramatic exterior styling changes. The 2011 Optima will be penned by Peter Schreyer, the creator of iconic Audi TT sports car, and will feature far more aggressive and sportier look than its predecessor.
Underpinnings of the next Kia Optima, as well as engines and transmissions will be shared with next-generation Hyundai Sonata and will include a range of powerful EURO5 compliant diesel and gasoline engines, equipped with gasoline direct injection technology. For the first time, Optima will also be available with Hyundai-Kia’s new six-speed automatic transmission.
The all-new Kia Optima is expected to hit Kia dealers in Korea in the first half of the 2010, while US and European sales will likely commence in late 2010 or early 2011.
To find more info about the 2011 Kia Optima and see more images of the prototype, please, head over to blogs.edmunds.com.
Update: Worldcarfans crew published even more spy shots of the all-new Kia Optima. As you can see, the future Optima sedan will be a fantastic looking car and one of the best in its segment! Link: Worldcarfans.com
August 27th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
himi, I think the link is not right…
August 27th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
anyway, went to the site myself an saw them. I’ve been waiting a long time for this. the car looks really good (no surprise really). I like the new C-pillar as well. and it seems Kia has finally decided what face they like for brand identity cuz they’re the same head lights as new sorento’s and sportage’s
August 27th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
This seems to have the same profile and size of the VG concept.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
The blogs.edmunds.com should be added before the /straightline….part. Definitely not the same profile as the VG.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
personally, i think it looks better than the VG cuz of the sharper lines and a sleeker grille and headlight design. with the sportage and now this optima, it seems schreyer is getting the hang of designing tail lights which didnt go quiet right on the sorento and venga.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
did anyone notice the the top of the windshield? seems like the ‘H’ shape is being applied to more than grille
August 27th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Yeah, I have noticed the h-shapped windshield. I think it looks quite interesting. But what impresses me the most is the aggressiveness of the vehicle. The car looks MEAN!!
P.S. Link corrected. Follow it to see more Optima pics.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I agree with BJD it looks better than the VG. Really sporty and diffrent in it’s own way and yet stylish. The Back window is off the Kia Kee. You know what I really like about this car? It’s looks hardly bigger than the current Optima. They seem more on style than size. I like that. Nice design.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Should it not be time to reset Peter Schreyer’s references? Enough already about the dated first-gen Audi TT and VW New Beetle!
“Peter Schreyer is the creator of the iconic Kia Forte Sedan and Forte Koup”
August 27th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
but i dont think those were entirely his creations. I think his first car that was designed only by him is the sportage or this optima. although I’m not sure of the Koup.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Peter is a legend! He and his works deserve to get mentioned in just about every post!!
I hope that 20 years from now people will read posts like this one: Penned by Peter Schreyer, the designer of iconic Kia Optima sports-sedan…!
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Back to the topic: Side profile of the car reminds me of Dodge Charger. Could it be that the car on the pics is a 5-door hatch and not a sedan. it has somehow short trunk for a sedan, doesn’t it? Perhaps Kia will bring two or three variants of new Optima to the market, just like Mazda did with the 6 and Opel with Insighnia. All, the wagon sedan and hatch are available.
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Well, instead of Optima hatch, I’d rather see Optima Koup, a two door coupe to make it to production.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
His first work is the 2011 Sportage and also the Optima, but those cars were not designed by him entirely, but rather under his leadership. He has a team of talanted designers that works on future vehicles, so it’s not him actually that draws the sketches, as far as I know.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
O I am a fan of sportbacks style like the mazda 6, Laguna and the Insighnia you mentioned. But looking at the spy-shots, even though its a short trunk, its still a sedan here. reely reely hope Kia makes a Sportback.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Wow, nice. We are finished paying off the Optima is 2012, maybe we’ll get a 2013 Optima. I guess it won’t really matter to me, I graduate in ’12.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Well no one can say the VG is the Optima anymore. I bet the CH is in the wind tunnel and is about to get tested out doors real soon.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Well jtz, Worldcarfans is trying to say this is the VG now.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Lol. Yeah just ignore the fact that at the Seoul Auto Show the KND-5′s back said VG at the end.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I wish this was the VG. The VG’s front fascia is terrible!
August 27th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Finally, the Optima will get the 3.3L V6 as the optional V6 engine. From studying the rear end, it looks like I am going to love the taillights, and FINALLY a back-up warning system.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Na I glad it’s a Camry and Accord rival. The VG is still nice looking too but the Optima’s C pillar really striking. Personally, I hardly see any room for D and E segmnet cars theses days since D segment cars are growing larger and larger everytime they get redesigned. I think Kia would be fine with just the new Optima and CH… unless the VG has more to it than just an Azera platform and we have to wait next month to see what’s really groundbreaking about the VG. But as nice as the VG is, the Optima is groundbreaking.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:20 am
I’m really suprised Kia allowed us to see this much of the Optima’s greenhouse compared to the VG’s.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:17 am
The VG is built on the Azera platform, and the CH is built on the Genesis platform. The Optima is built on the Sonata platform. I think the 2011 Optima’s code name is MH. Not sure on that though. I am pretty sure the next-gen Rio is TF, and then Rondo will get a next gen, and I heard that Sedona will live on as well due to strong Sedona sales this year! Hell, by the time they’re finished, they’re gonna have to start over with the Borrego again; it never ends!
August 28th, 2009 at 11:34 am
2011 Optima codenam is TF…
August 28th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Hmm, that’s weird, most of the time Kia codenames retain at least one of the letters of the previous Kia. Sedona: GQ to VQ, Spectra: SD to LD to TD, Optima MS to MG (to MH?), Amanti: GH to CH.
August 28th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
The second letter is the car’s market size-class, typically. So makes since that Optima’s would end with F. That seems to be a Hyundai standard and I guess Kia is now conforming to it. We’ll know for sure if the next Rio has a code that ends in a C.
August 28th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
err, sense even. Sorry.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Sorento = XM, “M” is a market size? Well, Sportage is SL, but Mohave (Borrego) is HM, and is larger than the XM.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
YN?
August 28th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Soul is AM.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I HAVE AN OPTIMA EXV6 2006.5,AT THE TIME I GOT IT ,DID NOT KNOW IT HAD A “RUBBER” TIME BELT….THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO ME TO FIND THIS OUT WHEN I READ MY MANUAL….DON’T GET ME WRONG THIS IS A GREAT CAR,BUT THE BELT HAS TO GO,SO TELL ME, DO THEY NOW HAVE A “NORMAL” METAL TIME CHAIN BELT….I NOW HAVE 41500 MILES,AND ITS OVER DUE,A COST TO ME $612.00,THIS I DID NOT WANT…..
August 28th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I thought that timing belts on Kia’s(and a lot of cars)were changed out at 60,000 miles. You’re only at 41,500 robertro2, what’s the problem?
August 28th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
we have to change our sportage timing belt every 60000 km (approx. 37000 miles) but ours is mostly highway driving. robertro’s prob is that he probably thought that both engines come with timing chains and that the reason he went for optima. but his V6 doesnt. the timing chain is only on thetaII engines which the optima’s 4 cylinder is.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Cars used to have timing chains at first, then, due to costs and noise (mainly noise) they went to timing belts, along this, came sooner replacements of timing gear, so they switch back to timing chains, with tensors and other noise reduction gizmos. These are more reliable and cost-wise are about the same with rubber. I prefer chains in favor of longetivity against noise.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I like timing chains and thats why I’m totally in favour of theta II engines.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Yeah, we have a 2007 Optima I4, and timing chain. Nice.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
THE OPTIMA V6 IS 40K……THE NOISE FROM A CHAIN IN ALL CARS THAT I OWN, NEVER COULD I HERE IT INSIDE THE CAR,AIR ON,RADIO ON,OR JUST THE BASIC ROAD NOISE…..SO I GUESS IF I WANT A CHAIN ,I SHOULD GO WITH THE 4CYL……THANKS…
August 28th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Getting the four cyl you only lose 20 HP, and gain a lot more MPGs, we get combined, COMBINED 32 MPG. The chain makes no noise that we’ve ever heard.
August 28th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
MAX MPG I GET IS ABOUT 28,AROUND TOWN ABOUT 22….THAT 4CYL SOUNDS LIKE THE NEXT ONE TO GET…AGAIN THANKS…
August 29th, 2009 at 3:22 am
This is the Optima, the Worldcarfans site is incorrect. The Amanti replacement looks fuller, and different, especially on the side profile.
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Hyundai is replacing the slow seilling Azera with the Sonata/Sonata Touring (Portico) and The Amanti replacement for KIA.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:30 am
The Next Gen Sonata will have a V6 that gives it more ponies than the Azera’s does, and AWD as well. With an obviously more upmarket Sonata, the next step would be the Genesis, so the Azera in the Hyundai lineup doesnt make sense.
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Models Hyundai North America will eliminate:
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1. Azera (Will be replaced by Sonata/Sonata Touring)
2. Tiburon (Will be replaced by a Sportier Accent 3 door=Veloster on the low spec end, and has been replaced by the Genesis coupe on the high spec end)
3. Entourage (Will be replaced by Sonata Touring)
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Models Hyundai North America will Add:
1. Equus on the higher end priced above the Genesis.
2. i20 or i20 sized car priced under the Accent.
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The Genesis and Next Gen Accent Will be the “Halo” cars for the brand. Above and Below. The Sonata will be a nice round out in the middle.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:27 am
The Optima shown there in the picture is a hybrid. The only 2011 Optimas (two of them) in the USA are hybrids.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Andy,
M is for multi-purpose. Ie, M-Class. I thought Hyundai was using the EC’s system, but guess they’re using a modified version of it. It can be seen on page 3 here:
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m1406_en.pdf
It’s not official per se, but has been used in previous merger cases.
I guess Hyundai doesn’t use it exactly because some of classifications overlap their model range, just as Mercedes only partially uses it. It seems that Kia is at least drifting towards Hyundai’s system, but again we’ll know for sure when the Rio is redone.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Greg if I was Hyundai KIA id just work on Hybriding the whole lineup. They have the Tech for: B, C, D, E, and F, segment Hybrids id just use the tech if I was them. They’ve had this tech for years now, they are just very scared of using it.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:37 am
If I were Kia, I wouldn’t waste time on hybrids. Hybrids are the Japanese way of stalling because they can’t think of anything better. Hyundai-Kia have the most advanced hydrogen technology right now, and hydrogen is the only way to go in the future. Forget gas-electric hybrids. They are a waste of time and money to produce. The next gen Borrego (circa 2015) will be the first widely available and affordable hydrogen vehicle in the world, with a starting price of $34-38,000
August 31st, 2009 at 5:31 am
I honestly hope that by 2025, Hyundai-Kia shouldn’t even be building internal combustion engines. I hope they are the world’s first manufacturer to sell only hydrogen vehicles. We have to stop letting the oil companies rule the world. The oil companies are in large part to blame for our recession/depression. We are dependent on oil, and they know it. When cars became popular, gas stations rose up. When hydrogen becomes popular, hydrogen stations will pop up. Just watch.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:15 am
Greg, We would be the dominator, but Hydrogen is just not taking off like Hybrids are. Ive never seen a Honda FCX Clarity in the flesh before, but I see 100s of hybrids everyday. Until they get a Hydrogen infrastructure up, Hydrogen is a pipe dream.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
That’s what people told Henry Ford. When the global warming freaks realize that their worthless hybrids are still polluting, and hydrogen is pollution-less, hydrogen will be just as big as hybrids. The reason you don’t see an FCX Clarity is because they are $600 per month for a 3 year lease, and you probably don’t live near a hydrogen fueling station.
September 1st, 2009 at 11:34 am
We have 2 in Town, but why I wonder? Greg, well see if I get tired of my Accent hybrid coming out soon. The only problem I can see with Hydrogen is its by product=water.
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In a new World with rising seas and continued climate change, would it be a smart proposition to put nearly a Billion cars, trucks, and buses on the road with water as a by product? In 2100 LA wouldnt have smog, it would have Rain clouds hovering over town.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:34 pm
But hydrogen is taken from water. and once used (in the FCEV) it is turned back to water after bonding it with oxygen. so this doesnt really change the amount of water on our earth. and water is the only substance on earth, where hydrogen can be taken from and not run out. The only problem is that producing hydrogen from water requires electricity but scientists have found ways to produce hydrogen from water without using electricity. Only thing to see is which one is the most economical and efficient technique.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
The new Kia Forte hybrid using LP is another “test” car for Europe now. The hydrogen car doesn’t pollute at all, right? It just emits a little bit of water at the exhaust point, eh? That’s not bad if that’s true. I still think all-electrics, even with their extensive use of coal-fired plants for both their build and their propulsion at charge-up time, are going to be the automotive technology of our future. A new company has chosed to work with Nissan and their Leaf and they’re building new charging stations from Phoenix to Tucson, including several in Tucson. I am going to see if I can’t utilize these with whatever all-electric rig I choose to buy, someday. They have already stated that they will be available for us to use for charging for whatever make of all-electric vehicle we decide to purchase. They won’t hog them just for re-charging Nissan Leaf(ves) only(!!). It won’t be for a long time for us, as I am in no hurry to unload my ICE ’08 Lancer GTS.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:45 pm
electrics can also be charged in other ways like PV cells (solar), tiny wind turbines in the hood and take charge from eco-friendly power stations (Hydro, Nuclear, Geo etc). But this isnt always possible because Countries have different climates. I think the best renewable fuel is Hydrogen in FCEVs as opposed to hydrogen engines that function like ICEs which are louder than diesels (thing about the latter engine is that, like our current engines, they can be refined in future)
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 am
Until every single USA power plant is non-coal, a plug in car is causing more problems than it solves.
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
One thing the cheapest tech always wins, so if they can make Hydrogen cheaper than Electrics, or Hybrids, then they got a recipe for success. However, as long as Hydrogen cars stay more expensive than the Hybrids, then Hydrogen is still a pipe dream.
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Whatever works just get us off the Oil Standard quickly, make if cost cheap, and make it clean and safe.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:02 pm
All-electric propulsion will still be here whilst the others will be mad scientist experiments, me thinks. Bring whatever propulsion methods you can muster, I just see more stirring in the all-electric pot that anything else in the last couple years.