The 2016 Kia Optima is already on sale in the United States and South Korea (where it’s called the K5), so the time has come for Europe to get it as well.
The first official photos of the car have surfaced on the internet, along with information, courtesy of our friends over at Autoblog.nl. So what does the European-spec Kia Optima bring?
Well, compared to the US model, it sports different front and rear bumpers, as well as slightly different taillights – more specifically the inner LED design. Compared to its predecessor, the new Optima is 10mm longer (all swallowed up by the wheelbase), 25mm wider and 10mm higher. The sedan also offers 510 liters (18 cu-ft) of luggage space.
The Optima’s body is 50-percent stiffer and offers more standard passive safety in the form of seven airbags. Standard equipment also includes a vehicle stability system (VSM), with safety assist extras such as adaptive cruise control, active braking, lane assist, blind spot detection, cross traffic detection, high beam assistant, speed signs recognition and a 360 degree environment monitor also offered.
The Optima will launch with a 1.6-liter CRDi diesel engine rated at 141hp and 340Nm (251lb-ft) of torque, mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed DCT. Other engine variants will follow, possibly including the 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol units. In the United States, these engines are rated at 178hp and 247hp, respectively.
The Optima will first arrive in Europe as a sedan from the fourth quarter of this year, with an estate version based on the Sport Space Concept said to follow later. A hybrid powertrain will also be offered.
PHOTO GALLERY
