Next generation, 2011 Kia Optima/Magentis to bear K5 nomenclature in its home market.
Following our news, and exclusive image of the all-new Kia K7 that we published at our blog yesterday, is another report related to one of Kia’s forthcoming sedans. This time, the news relates to Kia’s all-new, 2011 Optima sedan.
Today, we have learned that a completely redesigned Optima sedan will make its inaugural Korean debut in the first quarter of 2010, while its official sales has been scheduled to commence in May next year.
Reportedly, the all-new Optima (NOTE: Korean market model only!) will be the second model after Kia K7 to adopt the brand’s new alphanumeric naming scheme. According to latest rumours, the model is expected to bear a K5 nomenclature in its home Korean market.
A dozen of spy shots published on the web lately prove that the 2011 Optima is undergoing final phase of pre-production testing. Although most of the car has been hidden underneath a heavy camouflage, there have been several partly exposed parts, including a roof-line, signature grille, head-lights, tail-lights and side-mirrors, that allowed us to build a clearer picture of what the next-generation Optima will look like when it arrives into the showrooms.
Styling-wise, the all-new Optima will follow the trend of four-door coupes, set by pioneering Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. The model will incorporate Kia’s latest design scheme that will surprise many people yet again like how the all-new Forte and Forte Koup have done so.
Mechanically, the all-new Optima is a twin model of the all-new Hyundai Sonata so both are sitting on the same platform. However, since Kia is considering itself as a sportier brand in the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, it is very likely that Kia’s engineers will modify Optimas platform to offer sportier and more agile handling than its Hyundai counterpart.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
It seems like a They follow BMW 3,5,7 naming system.
They are really really ridiculous.
Please! anybody oppose them!!!
I feel better at soul, cee’d, kee, kue, koup.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Next Sportage = ‘Kia X3′
Next Sorento = ‘Kia X5′
Next Mohave(Borrego) = ‘Kia X7′
Ridiculous….
I think BMW will sue them soon.
If any Kia employee see this article, Please oppose them.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
SorentoR Owner, I think you are over-reacting. KIA aren’t stupid, there is no way that they are going to be using X3, X5 names. Anyway, BMW use full names (335i, 550i, 650i 760i, X5 xDrive35i etc.). Not just 3.
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Mazda, Audi, Hyundai are starting to, Citroen, Peugeot, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Lexus, Saab, Volvo… So why not KIA as well.
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It is simply another step that KIA are taking to shake that “cheap & cheerful” image they still have with a lot of people. Anyway, there is no word of them using it out side of South Korea for the moment. For all anyone knows they may never use Alpha-Numeric names anywhere else in the world.
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I honestly don’t see a huge problem with alpha-numeric naming of cars, so many already do it, one more is not going to make a difference.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I can’t distingiuigh numerous alpha-numeric naming of volvo, audi, aston martin, infiniti.
They are just “anonymous” cars.
This name system is really no soul, no taste, no emotion, no momrable.
Just like IBM, IBM 4860, IBM 5120, IBM 5155, IBM 5160….
October 9th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Guys, its to early to start complaining!
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These are only rumours at the moment so do not take them too seriously.
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Even if Kia uses K letter and numbers to replace the existing names, this will probably affect Korean market cars only.
October 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Audi A4, A5, A6, A8.
Volvo S40, V50, XC60, C70
Aston Martin don’t really use alpha-numeric. Vantage, Vanquish. But then there is the DB9, DBS, One-77 (but thats kind of a name) Hardly think any of these are anonymous, maybe Volvo, but Aston Martin and Audi, definatly not.
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Don’t know any from ininiti, not sold in Australia
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If anything, alpha-numeric naming will be good for KIA, shows a sense of upmarket-ness. So long as it doesn’t seem too similar to other car brands, they should be right.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Mazda 2,3,5,6
No problemo
October 9th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Cool so it is a 4 door coupe then. That’s what I thought. As fro the alpha-mumeric naming, I think it’s too early to judge since this may not be true. How would we know what this model will be called when it still has months of testing to go. It JUST finished the wind tunnel.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I bet the next Rio is just finishing the wind tunnel too. I think we should see Rio spy shots late this year or early next year. It’s probably on the machine that test for bumps right now. Or it’s probably seating in a negative degree room testing the engine to see if it will still crank up.
October 10th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I heard that K9 is going to be a real dog!!
October 10th, 2009 at 3:16 am
What I would like to know, is why did the Soul get a story on KW when it got 5 star crash safety rating, but the Forte wins the 5 star frontal rating, and there is not even a mention of it. 2010 Kia Forte w/SABs: Driver *****, Passenger *****, Front Side *****, Rear Side ***
October 10th, 2009 at 9:06 am
pretty much everyone gets 5-stars in NHTSA. its news if a car gets ‘good’ in IIHS or 5 stars in euro NCAP
October 10th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
@ Martin 1491: but Kia is “cheap & cheerfull” and there is nothing wrong with that!
Kia will need more than Aplha-numeric names to move a bit upscale: choice of material and better fit and finish for starters! (eg. any honest Soul owner will admit that the hard plastic door mouldings are full of scratches after only weeks).
And anyway as long as they are cheap we’ll all be able to afford them! I’d rather leave the “not cheap cars” to the “not cheerfull people”….
‘Nuf said
October 11th, 2009 at 7:04 am
bornloser, Thing is though, general perception of “Cheap & Cheerful” also means cheap and nasty, which isn’t so much the case anymore.
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I never stated that Alpha-Numeric naming system was the only thing they would need to do, that is just idiocy if anyone would actually think that. My point was that because there are quite a few upmarket car brands that do it already, it would be just another step forward, in terms of changing the publics perception, for KIA to possibly adopt the same naming system. What the hell is wrong with that?
October 11th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Boris you are right, if a car can get 5 stars in NCAP that is impressive. Hyundai-Kia group is making that a goal in safety.
October 12th, 2009 at 2:50 am
**NEWS FLASH** Kia Forte is out of the running for North American Car of the Year (NACOTY). The Kia Soul is still in it , though!
October 13th, 2009 at 12:35 am
K5…K7?
Betcha an ex-Audi Kia dude suggested the alphanumeric cliche….
Peter Schreyer!
October 15th, 2009 at 4:31 am
wow so nice car,..,
we hace now a new kia optima her in philippines
October 16th, 2009 at 11:10 am
@ james…. that’s a good one!