Earlier this week, Kia released a few designer sketches previewing the up-coming Magentis / Optima replacement. To spice things up a little bit, we are adding a few real-life spy shots of a slightly camouflaged, near production Optima sedan to the set of official Kia sketches.
The long-anticipated sporty mid-size sedan, which looks absolutely stunning so far, will make its official global debut at the New York Auto Show on April 2nd, according to Kia.
Codenamed TF, the 2011 Optima sedan will first go on sale in South Korea in May, with a choice of two four-cylinder engines: the 2.0L CVVT and 2.4L with Gasoline Direct Injection technology and estimated 200 horsepower.
When the model goes on sale in the U.S. and other international markets, you can also expect to see a turbo engine, as well as hybrid powertrain to join the engine line-up.
We know that next-generation Kia Magentis will share its powertrain technology with Hyundai’s just recently launched Sonata mid-size sedan and that is expected to get a turbo four-cylinder engine soon.
There are rumors that Hyundai will unveil both, turbo engine powered Sonata and Sonata hybrid at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, but we predict that this could also happen earlier, at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Over the past couple of years, Hyundai used L.A. Auto Show to unveil many of its latest production and concept cars. Two years ago, the automaker revealed its hybrid car architecture developed to fit mid-size cars such as Sonata and Optima sedans, while this year they launched a brand-new Tucson crossover and Sonata at the event.
We are really looking forward to finally get a more performance oriented Kia sedan with a turbo engine and a few more ponies under the hood. There’s still some mystery around the up-coming turbo engine, but have learned that the unit will generate around 240+ horsepower.
Our excitement regarding Optima’s engine line-up does not end here. The all-new hybrid powertrain architecture sounds tempting as well. A combination of a four-cylinder engine, cvt transmission and electric motor should provide even better fuel economy ratings than the existing four-cylinder 2.4L already achieves.
With 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, the 2.4L four-cyl. powered Sonata beats just about every rival in the segment and you can expect those numbers to be repeated with the all-new Optima mid-size sedan.
This is what we know about the 2011 Kia Optima / Magentis at this point. With the official premiere approaching fast, you can expect to see more images and read more information about this stunning Kia sedan at our Kia blog, so stay tuned (Thanks for sending us the pics, Lee)
Kia Magentis / Optima spy shots:
February 24th, 2010 at 2:44 am
You know what would make this car even better? If it had available 4WD. Seriously a car like this needs something besides FWD. Just look at it. This looks better than the Cadenza.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:46 am
I hope it gets panaramic sunroof. I want it in black or blue. If I were to get it, I would still keep my Kia Forte too.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:26 am
Who would have known after looking at the 1st generation Kia Optima, two generations later, it would evolve into this.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:30 am
Is that amazing or is that amzaing. Who would have known from the Kia Enterprize to the Kia Cadenza. From the 1st generation Sportage to the 3rd Sportage. From the Kia Sephia to the Forte. From being ignored and treated as cheap quailty and often ranked at the bottom of the list when it comes to quailty to now actually being noticed and taken seriously from manufactures like Toyota and Honda. From the ugly and cheap looking KCV-1, 2 and 3 to KCV-3 concept to the more stylish Mojave, Mesa, Soul, Kue, KND-4 Cee’d concept, Multi-S, Kee and Ray concepts. Who would have known.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:37 am
Who would have known when the Kia Sephia came in 1994, 15 years later they would built their own plant. Kia is also getting older too. Think about it, 3rd generation models? Who would have known from making poor gas milage to now groundbreaking mpg like the Kia Borrego V8 that is better than many who produced V8 engines for years. Who would have known that after using the 10 year warrenty just to get people in the showrooms, it is now used as a positive advantage compared to others causing them to increase their warrenties. When Kia had the Rio and Spectra with the 10 year warrenty, others didn’t start increasing their warrenty (or should I say copying) until Hyundai first got in the above adverage list in the quailty list.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:39 am
One more thing that amazes me. Kia was the last manufacturer to bring navigation in America (the 09′ Kia Borrego was the first Kia to have it) and now look they are one of the first to have that new Microsoft Technology called UVO. Who would have known?
February 24th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
This don’t look nothing like the Kia forte like how the Lancer, RVR, and Outlander’s face are clicked and pasted. The C pillars are totally diffrent. It’ll have a way more powever engine and it isn’t a Civic Rival but an Accord rival. It will have more features andif they were to give it AWD as an option, that will differ it more from the cee’d platform I mean the Kia Forte. And what you mean it lacks individuality when it seems that in the D segment class this is the first 4 door coupe in that class. Last I checked, the Accord, Camry, Mailibu, Sonata, Fusion, Galant, Altima were sedans. What car in the D segment have pillars with chrome that starts at the A pillars and goes thorugh the C pillars? So if this is the Forte to you I guess you think the Kia k7 is a Forte too?
February 24th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
LOL @ jtz but I must shout AMEN! to all that you said!
I’m so happy that they have kept the production version so true to the concept…you can see some of the best details like the metal strip above the windows and the hooked rear windows have remained! =D
February 25th, 2010 at 4:50 am
I don’t think the Optima ever had a concept.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:11 am
When did you get a Forte JTZ?
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The Turbo has to get a Mininum of 250 HP in order to be more than the previous V6.
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It would be sweet if they gave Optima 3.8 Lambda.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:17 am
3.8 Lambda would be EXCELLENT in the Optima. Though a 4.6L or 5.0L Tau would really make me happy.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:52 am
I had the Forte for seven months now with 5600 miles. I have an old article on here search July you’ll see it. But anyway this car needs somthing besides a simple fwd it really does. Agreed it needs a 3.8l V6 it could also use that mood lighting that is in the K7. I can’t wait to see the interior for real though. If this Kia can’t win car of the year by motortrend nothing will. KIA hit the lottery on this design. I also hope they come out with the rarest colors and don’t give the Canadian version more features and better colors.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
HyundaiSmoke, I say 240 or 250 hp for turbo would be great. They need to keep the fuel milege at around what the 2.4 GDI gets now. If you ever driven a VW CC with a 2.0 turbo, if gets up and go pretty good with only 200 HP and gets 30 mpg. BTW I see you are becoming a internet star. Autoline had you email question on their show. Way to go.
February 25th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
5.0L in the Optima? Pathetic…so over-the-top…even 3.8L is pushing it…2.4L should be the maximum…
February 25th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
This new Magentis/Optima will simply be the best-looking car in its class and , to my trained eye, notably better-looking than the squashed-Mazda styling of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata.
Going with a 2.4L direct-injection engine is also a perfect choice for the times. As Hyundai has said about the new Sonata, there will probably never be a V6 engine available for the Magentis/Optima.
One more vote here for AWD, but I have no illusions.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Scott, thanks yeah me and John Mc Elroy have spoken about Hyundai/KIA products. Hes very interested in our company now. He understands that a company as big as Hyundai/KIA is deserving of awards, etc…. He voted on the Soul to not make it car of the year becuase of the cheap plastic. I told KIA about it, and gave them his assessment. He says that Ford will be the big time company in the short term, but in the intermediate to long term Hyundai/KIA will rule the world. He was like a school girl over that Sonata.
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Scott the Turbo is supposed to have 35 MPG too. I wish for a 3.8 V6, but I think they will hold back and drop the 3.3 V6 instead.
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JTZ, I would have put an intake on the first day. Nice review, yeah Fortes are sweet.
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No Bernard, there will be an Optima V6, and no Sonata V6. The Optima V6 is a popular Unit, unlike the Sonata V6.
February 25th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Remember how you guys say Hyundai might have their own Soul, well I have a source that says there will be an Accent Crossover based off the Soul.
February 26th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
HyundaiSmoke – are you gonna just jump right in to an Executive position with Hyundai in the future, or, are you gonna have ta start just selling cars off the lot? Sheesh. You’re the ‘Greg’ of the Hyundai World!
February 26th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
I’m finding it hard to believe there will be an Optima V6 for several reasons. One is what Krafcik said about V6′s becoming extinct and how the Sonata’s platform wasn’t designed for one. It’s hard to believe Kia is going back in to redesign the whole structure to accomodate one. I especially find the 3.3L hard to believe because Hyundai has already told multiple media outlets that the Optima would be built in West Point and the 3.3L is no longer in production in Montgomery; only the 3.5L is. And that would be an awful lot of engine for the Optima. Kia has to meet CAFE standards, too, so I look for them to restrict bigger engine choices. Lastly, I can’t imagine the V6 being all that popular. Most dealers that I’ve searched have few or none in inventory, not surprising as the 2.7L currently used is a dog.
February 27th, 2010 at 1:49 am
It would make sense for Kia to use only 4 cyl like Hyundai for the 2011 Optima. If a customer wanted a v-6. then they could opt for the Cadenza.
February 27th, 2010 at 1:49 am
What about the Santa Fe? Doesn’t that still use the 3.3L? and the 2.7L? Anyway, Kia plans to replace the horrid 2.7L unit with the 2.4L GDI.
February 27th, 2010 at 2:36 am
You got a point Derrick, but that still doesnt negate KIAs claims that Optima will have a V6. From what I understand about the platform is that its a Front chasis thing. Sonata will have a lighter structure in the Chassis than Optima.
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Its not hard to modify a Platform. Veloster for example is on the Accent/i20/Rio/Soul platform, yet some debate whether it will be badged as Accent hatch or Elantra hatch.
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Well see, but I think 2.4 Theta will come standard in Optima without GDI.
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Ill Explain
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Extra Fuel economy is supposed to cost more money for a KIA owner, and be standard on the Hyundai. I think GDI in Optima will be Optional. KIA is supposed be a performance brand, the Optima is going to have to have a proper V6,or KIA wont be taken seriously.
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Well see however.
February 27th, 2010 at 3:01 am
No, Greg, the Santa Fe now uses the 2.4 I4 sans GDI and the 3.5L, just like the new Sorento.
HS: Well maybe KIA’s scared that it’ll hurt their image, too. I dunno. But do us all a favor: teach John McElroy how to say Hyundai. He insists he says Hun-DYE because that’s how the say it in Korea, but from everything I’ve ever heard, it’s Huh-YUN-Deh. So I don’t know why he can’t just say Hun-DAY like they ask.
Scott: I think what you’re saying makes a lot of sense. Especially since they could get a Cadenza for about the same of a lesser car with a V6 from a competitor.
February 27th, 2010 at 3:34 am
Derrick, most people in the world outside of Korea Pronounce it as Hyun-DIE. Its just us North Americans who say Hun-day. Mac Elroy says, he likes Hyun-DIE better than Hun-day. I never used to like Hyun-DIE myself, but as I listen to these international Journalists say it, its not so bad. As a matter of fact I think we here in North America should mix it up to the point to where. I said hun-day 10 minutes ago, and now I said Hyun-DIE, Ive caught myself mixing the pronounciaton many times lately. I used to care, but now its not really a big deal to me.
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The rest of the world thinks we’re silly anyway. Hyun-DIE is growing on me its exotic, Hun-day sounds plain, but its easier for many North Americans to pronounce.
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I think this debate will continue, and it will be one of those quirky Hyundai things.
February 27th, 2010 at 4:14 am
Their commericals use to say like Sunday but Hyun-day. As long as we are talking about them
February 27th, 2010 at 6:39 am
True Scott, so I think for all intensive purposes on this Continent at least, Hun-day is the proper way to say it.
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February 27th, 2010 at 8:10 am
Four Words:
“THAAAAAANNNK YOU PETER SCHREYER!!!!!!” XD…
February 27th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Hun-day sounds like a silly dog name….HYUN-DIE is the proper way to say it. End of discussion. LOL.
The car looks hot and I’m happy about it – very happy about it! =D
February 27th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
I’m sorry, but that’s the way the company wants it pronounced and to say it any other way is just rude. Would John much like it if everyone started pronouncing his name in a way that was based on their liking the son on “The Jetsons”? I’m betting not. Also, most of Australasia uses something close to the Korean version. And John’s original explanation was that the U.S. version was a cheap marketing ploy and he was saying it like they do in Korea, which just isn’t true. And now he’s saying it’s because he LIKES it better? Please.
February 28th, 2010 at 3:06 am
LMAO Derrick. He likes the Korean version better, hes a true automorive purist. I actually like this debate, and hope the debate over Hyun-DIE vs Hun-day continues.
February 28th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I say Hun-Day, like everyone else does. Those that say Hun-die have some kind of fasacination with…umm…death. Or something.
March 1st, 2010 at 12:17 am
Just because the US says hyun-day does not mean that is THE way…America you are n o t THE world…you’re apart of it like everyone else =P
March 1st, 2010 at 12:18 am
*waits to get absolutely slated by Americans…*
March 1st, 2010 at 1:14 am
I say Hoon-dee or Hun-dee. Everyone at the Hyundai dealership says Hun-day, though. I guess ‘Hyundai’ is one of those “car-mul” “care-uh-mel” things. It is spelled caramel, but I, along with I think everyone else in Michigan, says “car-mul”
March 1st, 2010 at 1:57 am
Greg, many middle Americans say car mul. Im from the east coast and I live in middle America now. My saying of care-ah-mel always shocks people.
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Johnathan, the day when America as a Hyperpower collapses from within due to decay (All Hyperpowers collapse from within and are never defeated by external enemies) I think the amount of humility we show the rest of the world will be awe inspiring.
March 1st, 2010 at 4:40 am
Johathan:
I’m not saying the whole world should say it that way, just the countries where the company says it that way.
HS:
But he’s NOT saying it the Korean way. Matter of fact, I don’t know of any country that says it that way. All the countries I know that end it with DIE, say HOON, HE YOON or HIGH UN. And in Korea the end sounds is DEH, not DIE.
March 1st, 2010 at 9:41 am
I think the Soul could be KIAs VW bettle. I think they need to offer GDI in it and now. I think KIA is ot taking advantage of this oppurtunity. It needs a 3 door, and the Soulster too.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Sorento Owner,
First time I’ve heard an English language commercial say it like they say in Korea. Wonder what country that’s from?
March 1st, 2010 at 10:20 pm
The Kia Soulster is no doubt going to make it in to production, car nuts. I guarantee it! Hun-Day is Fun-Day, just like some say Sun-Day is their Fun-Day. This is an interesting discussion. My Mom owned two Hyundai Excels, and my FIL pronounces it Hun-die. My Mom says it correctly, Hun-Day. Because it rhymes with Fun-Day. We are fairly bratty here in da States. I know of another two countries out there that we are currently helping, Haiti and Chile. We help others a LOT, don’t we, dudes?
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 am
I call it Hyun-Day and they new Kia and Hyundai designs are simply stunning. I just hope they release sport versions of their models to get the crowd that actually likes to drive.