Next-generation Kia Optima makes European debut in Paris
Kia’s outing at the Paris Motor Show this time round sees the Korean car-maker debuting an all-new electric vehicle concept called POP. Fully electric, the POP is driven by a 50kW / 190Nm motor which draws power from lithium polymer gel batteries that gives it a single-charge range of 160km.
Whilst this outlandish concept car is expected to make all the headlines, the car in Kia’s booth which is of greater importance to us is the Optima, which makes its European bow here in Paris, almost half a year after its debut at this year’s New York Motor Show. The Optima is slated to go on sale in Europe in the second half of next year.
The Optima was launched for the Korean domestic market in May 2010 as the Kia K5, and became an instant hit, selling more than 20,000 cars in its first two months on sale. For its European debut, the Optima will be offered with the option of two new engines – a 1.7-litre VGT diesel good for 138hp & 330Nm, and a similarly new 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 168hp & 196Nm.
Both engines are offered with the option of a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission, and the 2.0-litre ‘Nu’ motor should not be confused with the similarly-sized Theta-II engine currently powering the Hyundai Sonata.
The 1.7-litre VGT diesel is also being introduced in the European market Sportage to complement the existing line-up of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines. In the Sportage, however, the 1.7 diesel produces 113hp & 255Nm.
Additionally, the Sportage will also receive the 1.6-litre petrol Gamma engine which we have grown familiar with in the Kia Forte and Hyundai i30. While we have doubts if a small-capacity petrol engine can provide any meaningful propulsion for a vehicle of this size, outputs have been raised, with the engine producing 133hp & 165Nm – impressive numbers for a natural-breathing 1.6-litre petrol.
Question for us now is, when will they arrive in Malaysia?
