More details have been revealed on the next-generation Kia Optima saloon, which has made its first public appearance at the 2015 New York Motor Show.
Kia’s new Optima introduces a host of changes to make it more stylish and practical than ever before, and become a stronger rival to the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Insignia. Exterior-wise, the new Optima has a redesigned tiger-nose grille which contributes to an overall sleeker and sportier appearance.
Some of the exterior design elements on the new Optima were demonstrated earlier by Kia’s Sportspace concept during last month’s Geneva Motor Show. The Sportspace concept is an estate model and it’s widely anticipated that the new Optima will eventually introduce an estate bodystyle for the first time.
Kia says that its new Optima saloon is already longer, taller and wider than its predecessor and subsequently more cabin space and extra luggage room.
Further improvements by Kia include a stiffer chassis, which should benefit the new Optima’s ride and handling. Kia has also applied more extensive use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic to the car’s body. This will not only improve refinement even further, but also reduce vibrations in the car and lower its overall weight.
The engine line-up for the new Optima is unconfirmed for the British market. While a few petrol engines have been announced at the New York Motor Show, these are specified for the US market and are not expected to reach these shores. Instead, the new Optima in Britain will reportedly use the same 1.7-litre diesel unit available on the current Optima, albeit offering improved fuel economy and CO2 emission figures.
Equipment that could be carried over to the British market-version of the new Optima includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot detector, autonomous emergency braking and a rear-view camera.
The new Kia Optima is set to arrive to European markets including Britain this autumn. Pricing and specification details will be announced later this year.
