All-new Kia Optima makes an early debut. Kia Motors releases official images of its new mid-size sedan.
The next generation Kia Optima (currently, also known as ‘Magentis’ in some markets) is set to make its world premiere next month at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.
“The next generation Optima possesses the power to surprise,” says Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer. “It’s a car that people will simply not expect from Kia – and that’s exactly what we set out to achieve.”
The Optima exudes an athletic confidence from every angle and shutline – its raked roofline, the high and pronounced shoulder line of its sculpted flanks and its extended wheelbase are complemented by boldly flared wheelarches and a shallow glasshouse that create a saloon with a muscular and self-assured stance.
The striking visage of the Optima features a new interpretation of Kia’s bold ‘tiger’ family face that’s edged by piercing projector headlamps.
Longer, wider and lower than before, the Kia’s coupe-like profile is enhanced by the sweeping chrome arc that flows from A to C pillar, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further still and enhances its cab-backwards proportions.
Spacious, and with class-leading levels of safety and luxury equipment, the Optima’s intelligently configured and driver-oriented cabin underlines this newfound poise and presence.
“The Optima embodies Kia’s confident new design direction,” says Schreyer. “It’s a global car with individual appeal.”
The Kia Motors press conference for the New York International Auto Show will take place on April 1, 2010 from 10:10-10:35 a.m. at the Kia Stand on Level 1 of the ‘Jacob Javits Center’ located between 34-39 Streets on 11th Avenue in New York City.
New Kia Optima image gallery:
March 14th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Quite impressive indeed. Would seriously shake up the midsize market a bit. I really like the rear passenger window design too.
But it won’t be coming to Australia will it?
March 14th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
If the current Magentis is on sale in Australia, this one will be too.
March 14th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Im’ MUCH more interested in the interior.
March 14th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Unlike our expectation, It is not a 4dr Coupe!
March 15th, 2010 at 12:44 am
The new Optima looks great! I purchased an ’09 Sonata last year (Incentives higher plus the I liked the interior better); I think the new Optima looks more upscale and refined than the ’11 Sonata.
March 15th, 2010 at 1:22 am
At least they are showing it on the frst day of April. That Geneva show was a joke, and not what a Geneva show should be up to.
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Id love to see a Rio Concept, or at least a pic of a possible direction of where its going.
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It would be really nice if they had a 3.8 Lambda as the V6 in Optima.
March 15th, 2010 at 1:40 am
Nice, good job in designing this one..
March 15th, 2010 at 3:26 am
Greg, that’s why I am confused. I heard that they stopped selling the Magentis here because no one was buying them. To which I blame the total lack of advertising for it. And just checking the Kia Australia site, the Magentis isn’t listed…
March 15th, 2010 at 5:12 am
I had to go on autoblog . Check out my commets on the new Optima on that blog if you want to. No one I repeat no one gonna say the Koreans are copying when I can get designs from A to Z. Anyway I hear it is getting a new name in Europe which is a good thing. It will also have class leading luxury. Also I believe it can take on rivals this time instead of just being cheaper than everyone else. I can’t wait until the Sonata and Optima bring out their hybrids that could have a higher mpg than that Camry and Fusion.
March 15th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
this is SUCH a nice car. i agree the back window treatment all around is great. it has a great angle whichever way you look at it which is rare anywhere. This also looks capable to take on a Lexus IS with its chiseled appearance. Very well done.
March 15th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Has there been any word as to an optional V6 or is it going to be like the 2011 Sonata? Those are also some very nice looking wheels I would hope they make them available on production units. Will Kia be able to keep it priced similar to what the 10′s are?
March 15th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
I like the luxury Kia is putting into their products but at the same time I am a little suprised about how luxrious Kias are getting. I know Kia is the sportier brand but I was shocked to hear that this next Optima will be class leading luxury. That suprises me. Like I really didn’t expect the K7′s interior to go out with a bang neither.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I doubt Kia will offer V6 power in the new Optima. Instead they are probably going to introduce a 2.0L turbo engine with 240+ hp.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
What it really needs is available 4WD. The design is too good looking just to be a traditional FWD.
March 15th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
The Optima will get the GDI 2.4L for the US. A 2.0L engine will be available in most markets.
March 16th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Good – its about time some markets stopped using unnecessarily huge engines. People in Europe could not afford to buy the fuel for a 5.0 some guys wanted! it would always be ‘nice’ but not necessary. We just had fuel prices of £5.41 per gallon of petrol here, thats nearly $8.50. I just hope we get this car with the great new 2.2 CRDi engine. 60-70% of cars this size in Europe are diesel and Kia would effectively kill this car if they dont give it the latest diesel plant, but as Schreyer is Austrian he knows that.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:43 am
So if the Sonata isn’t going to Europe because they’re going to offer a more market-appropriate i40 and if this car is about as big as a Sonata, will Europe get this or something smaller?
March 16th, 2010 at 5:36 am
WOW!!!!!! Check out Kiatf.com you got to see this this car looks even better on there. That back end is awsome. Look houw MUSCULAR it appars. Man that is one HELL of a design. This is soooooo raw looking. You know what, this car doesn’t need a V6 for the Cadenza’s sakes. You know what, that is a four door coupe, You can see the way the back window is designed. The C pillar got some cues from the Kee as well as the Kue mixed togather. This looks better than the Equus and the Cadenza. This is the best looking sedan in and above its class. I WANT ONE IN BLACK OR DARK BLUE!!! With or without the side vents. I want a rear spoiler. I want it to have that strip. I want it to play dvds. i WANT UVO. I want the camera in the front as well as the back. I want it to ding when changing lanes and all that s**t!!!! Better yet I WANT IT IN 4WD. And I want it NOW!!! Plus it’s rare and it’ll turn heads. It’ll stand out and be noticed when going to the parking lot. It’ll grab attention when going to the gas station and car washes. Just check it out on Kiatf.
March 16th, 2010 at 5:40 am
This looks better than the Buick Regal. It also is more differed from the Sonata than the Regal is from the insigna.
March 16th, 2010 at 6:06 am
I don’t want one.
March 16th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Wow Jtz I never saw you get this excited about ANY Kia model like the next generation optima. I’m gonna see what all the fuss is about.
March 16th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
this has got to inprove the sales of the Magentis in Canada which for ’09 was one of their worse selling models behind the Sorento, Borrego and Amanti. Lets hope the interior is as good as the exterior. The exterior is a vast improvement over the previous model, KIA is sure turning out some good looking products.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Oh yeah this is one mean looking car!!! Best Kia vehicle in the line-up by far. I WILL be getting this!
March 17th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
If this is the size of car you want it would be hard to beat the new world order Optima. Doesn’t look anywhere near as cool as my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS, but, the Lancer is a compact and this is a midsize car. This one or the Ford Fusion Hybrid or the Mitsubishi Galant would be the midsize cars vying for my dollars. If I wanted a midsize car.
March 21st, 2010 at 12:52 am
I forgot the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS. The Kizashi and the 2011 Kia Optima are my top two midsize car choices. The Ford Fusion Hybrid is in 3rd place followed by the Mitsubishi Galant.