2016 KIA OPTIMA

KIA ANNOUNCES PRICING OF ALL-NEW 2016 OPTIMA

Starting MSRP of $21,840¹ makes the all-new 2016 Optima midsize sedan a compelling offer

• All-new Optima remains a strong value in the midsize segment, combining more standard features with a low starting price
• Optima matures into an expertly crafted sedan with two turbo engine choices and five trims, including the U.S.-exclusive SXL

Irvine, Calif., Oct. 13, 2015 – Kia Motors America (KMA) announced pricing today of the newest version of its hugely popular midsize sedan, the Optima.  Offered in five trim levels – LX, LX 1.6T, EX, SX and SXL, the all-new 2016 Optima is priced aggressively with a starting MSRP of just $21,840 for the LX with a 2.4-liter engine.  An instant hit with consumers looking for a fresh alternative to an otherwise staid segment, the Optima has been KMA’s top-selling vehicle for three consecutive years, and the all-new model is poised to continue that success.

“The outgoing Optima was a game changer for Kia and a wake-up call to the midsize sedan segment.  As KMA’s top-selling vehicle for three consecutive years, and the first model to sell more than 150,000 units annually, its importance to the brand can’t be overstated.  Bringing the all-new 2016 Optima to market at a highly competitive price was paramount to continuing our success,” said Michael Sprague, chief operating officer & EVP, KMA.  “With a starting MSRP of $21,840, the all-new Optima offers more standard features than before yet holds the line on pricing from the outgoing model, which underscores Kia’s commitment to offering tremendous value.”

The 2016 Optima comes well equipped with a generous roster of standard features including, six-way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar, six-way adjustable front passenger’s seat with height adjuster, a Rear Camera Display² viewed through the standard five-inch touchscreen on LX, LX 1.6T, and EX, and an eight-inch touchscreen premium navigation³ system on SX and SXL, Bluetooth^®4 hands-free operation, driver’s knee airbag, keyless entry system and a standard pushbutton start on LX1.6T, EX, SX and SXL.  The Optima is offered with standard YES Essentials™⁵ fabric technology to provide anti-microbial protection from spills, anti-static protection from irritating electrical shocks, as well as stain-repelling and stain-releasing fabric characteristics.  For those searching for a fun-to-drive sedan with optimum fuel economy, the LX 1.6T, starting at $23,990, is offered with a new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s mated to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which is a first for the Kia brand.  The LX Convenience Package ($1,850) includes Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Rear Parking Assist System (RPAS)².  Among other features, the LX Turbo Technology Package ($2,600) includes navigation, Sirius^® XM Traffic⁶ and rear LED taillights, USB chargers for both front and rear seat passengers.

The Optima EX, starting at $24,890, is offered exclusively with the 2.4-liter engine and includes dual projection headlights with LED positioning lights, LED tail lights and power folding heated outside mirrors.  Premium standard EX features include a 12-way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support and two-position integrated memory system, heated steering wheel and leather-trimmed heated front seats.  The EX Premium Audio Package ($1,200) includes a Kia first-ever available Harman/Kardon QuantumLogic™7 Premium Surround Sound Audio System⁷, which includes 10 speakers, Clari-Fi™⁷ technology and an upgraded 630-watt digital amplifier.

Adding to the EX trim, the Optima SX priced at $29,690 and Optima SXL priced at $35,790 both come standard with a powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder engine.  Available for the first time on any Kia vehicle are Bi-Xenon HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Lamps (DBL) and SXL adds intuitive High Beam Assist (HBA), which recognizes oncoming traffic and automatically switches the lights to low beam until the opposing vehicle has passed.  The SX Launch Edition package ($2,700) includes exclusive features such as unique18-inch alloy wheels, merlot leather seating and premium tricot black headliner and roof pillars, and popular features such as Panoramic Sunroof, and the Harman/ Kardon QuantumLogic^TM Premium Surround Sound Audio System.  The SX Technology Package ($4,800) includes Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC), Front Collision Warning System (FCWS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)² – which, under appropriate conditions, will bring the vehicle to a complete stop to potentially avoid a collision or reduce damage.  In addition to the advanced driver assistance features, the SXL adds as standard equipment quilted Nappa leather-trimmed seats, a wireless charging system for devices such as smartphones, and silver perforated stitching on the instrument panel and front door trim.

Kia’s Best-Selling Nameplate is Passionately Designed and Obsessively Crafted with European Styling, a Refined Premium Interior and Significant Ride and Handling Improvements

• Optima matures into an expertly crafted sedan with two turbo engine choices and five trims, including the U.S.-exclusive SXL
• Built at Kia’s U.S. plant*, Optima features reduced NVH and a more responsive, confident ride

NEW YORK, Apr. 1, 2015 – Five years ago Kia Motors America (KMA) debuted the re-designed Optima at the New York International Auto Show and introduced a game-changing midsize sedan that catalyzed the brand’s design-led transformation.  History was repeated when the all-new 2016 Optima, a symbol of the Kia brand’s maturation through continuous refinement and obsessive attention to detail, made its debut here today.  An instant hit with consumers looking for a fresh alternative to an otherwise staid segment, the Optima has been KMA’s top-selling vehicle for three consecutive years, and the all-new model is poised to continue that success.

Conceived under the watchful eye of Kia’s president and chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, with modern and instantly recognizable design cues, the Optima maintains its athletic identity but rides on a chassis that is longer, wider and stiffer for improved ride and handling and a more spacious cabin.  Available with three engine choices, including a new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s mated to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), the Optima is more confident than ever on the road.  The all-new Optima’s roomier, more luxurious cabin features an impressive level of craftsmanship that will come standard across five trim levels – LX, LX Turbo, EX, SX Turbo and SXL – when sales begin in the fourth quarter of 2015.  As with its predecessor, the all-new Optima will be built at Kia’s plant* in West Point, Georgia.  Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch date.

“The Optima changed the way people felt about the Kia brand, and KMA owes much of its growth and success to its head-turning design and sporty performance.  It was – and still is to this day – a fresh alternative in the midsize sedan segment, and it amplified a five-year design-led transformation that propelled Kia to record-setting sales year-on-year,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, sales and marketing, KMA.  “The all-new Optima retains the signature personality of its predecessor, but we’ve literally improved everything, providing more space, better ride and handling, more technology and greater refinement.”

Instantly Recognizable European Design
Because the previous generation Optima was such a success story for the brand, Kia’s designers had to strike a delicate balance, retaining the identity of the vehicle while, at the same time, making a confident move forward to keep the car modern and fresh.  Sweeping contemporary surfaces and modern architecture inspired the design of the all-new Optima, revealing a sophisticated and dynamic sedan that is instantly recognizable yet has more road presence than ever.

The all-new Optima is boldly designed to be functional and sporty with exterior dimensions that are marginally longer, taller and wider.  The wheelbase has been extended to 110.4 inches (increased 0.4 inches), and the vehicle has been widened to 73.2 inches (increased 1.0 inch).  Both changes enable a roomier and more comfortable cabin with more head room, shoulder room and rear seat leg room.  The increased dimensions also allow for more cargo capacity in the trunk.

The aggressive front clip pulls the sheet metal taut over the wheel arches, and the swept-back headlights reach deeply into the fenders.  On the SX and SXL trims, Kia’s signature tiger-nose grille is hot stamped and composed into a sophisticated pinpoint design that bears a strong resemblance to Kia’s luxury sedan, the K900¹.  The all-new Optima introduces Kia’s first application of bi-functional HID headlights – with available Dynamic Bending Lamps and High Beam Assist – that illuminate the tarmac around corners.

The greenhouse silhouette maintains the raked A-pillar and sweeping C-pillar that lend the Optima its sport-sedan appearance.  The rear vent windows kick up smartly just ahead of the carved rear fenders.  As with its predecessor, the all-new Optima incorporates a raised deck lid, and the use of available LED halo-style tail lights mimics that of the Cadenza premium sedan.

The 2016 Optima rides on alloy wheels ranging from 16 to 18 inches, with three new unique 18-inch wheel designs, depending on trim level.  Three new exteriors colors compliment the latest Optima’s sophisticated styling:  a vibrant blue inspired by a sparkling ocean underneath a sunny sky; a dynamic grey with olive undertones, and a deep red that gains depth from the use of aluminum pigments.

Exquisite Interior Craftsmanship
Optima’s interior is larger and more comfortable with an innovative and functional cabin that is well-appointed with class-up touches.  Drawing inspiration from Kia’s premium and luxury sedans, the Optima utilizes more soft-touch materials throughout the passenger compartment.  Optima’s luxurious interior is obsessively crafted with an impressive attention to detail and features real stitching along the dash and doors, complimented by tasteful metallic accents, varying by trim level.  The driver-oriented cabin has been simplified with a cleaner, more unified design than the previous generation, with a stronger horizontal plane and a wider center console that help create a greater sense of space.  By grouping and reducing the number of functional keys and buttons, Kia’s already-superior ergonomics are markedly improved.

The interior design team also paid particular attention to seat comfort.  A stiffer seat frame reduces vibration and soft foam in the headrest, upper back and thigh-support areas allows occupants to nestle into seats with deeper side bolsters made with denser, more supportive foam.  For extra convenience, heated and ventilated front seats are available with power adjustable driver and front passenger seats.  For added convenience, the 2016 Optima offers a height-adjustable front passenger seat, a feature normally found only in premium vehicles.  Depending on trim level, the seats are covered in cloth, leather or luxurious Nappa leather and two new interior colors – a rich merlot and a dark aubergine – are available.

Convenience and Technology
Kia’s cutting-edge connectivity system, UVO², comes standard with four additional eServices not previously available on Optima:  Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score³.  Additionally, Optima is Kia’s pilot vehicle for the introduction of Android^TM4 Auto and Apple^®5 CarPlay (late availability), which allow drivers to access a suite of core functions from their smartphones.  After connecting their smartphone to the head unit via the vehicle’s front fast-charge USB port (another fast-charge USB port is located in the rear seat), the 8-inch touchscreen screen displays the smartphone’s most important features.  Core functions including music, messaging, navigation and voice calls are available via the screen, the steering wheel or via voice command².  Kia is one of the first to deliver this technology, which is available for select Android phones operating with Lollipop or Apple phones operating with iOS8.X or higher.  Any future third-party apps that are added by either Android or Apple will be available for customers to enjoy from their respective app store.

While the standard six-speaker audio system will satisfy all but the most demanding enthusiasts, true audiophiles will gravitate to the available Infinity^® Premium Audio System⁶, which includes 14 speakers, Clari-Fi™⁷ technology and an upgraded 630-watt digital amplifier.  Clari-Fi is a patented music restoration technology that rebuilds audio signals that are lost in the digital compression process.  This technology breathes new life into your favorite music, restoring a high-fidelity listening experience to any compressed digital source.  Optima’s premium Infinity audio system also comes equipped with next-generation QuantumLogic™⁷ Surround technology, which extracts signals from the original recording and redistributes them into an authentic, multidimensional soundstage for playback that is clear, refined and detailed.  Kia was one of the first automakers to incorporate Clari-Fi technology into their audio systems with the debut of the 2016 Sorento, and Optima is the first-ever Kia sedan to feature QuantumLogic Surround technology.

The all-new Optima takes convenience to the next level with a long list of available technologies across the various trim levels.  Available on every Optima is a rear-camera display⁸ while SX and SXL trims offer an available 360-degree Around View Monitor⁸.  Available driver-aid technology, including Advanced Smart Cruise Control (SCC)⁸, Blind Spot Detection (BSD)⁸, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)⁸ and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)⁸ – which, under appropriate conditions, will bring the vehicle to a complete stop to potentially avoid a collision or reduce damage – makes the task of driving easier and more convenient.  Also available for the first time on any Kia vehicle are Bi-function HID headlights with Dynamic Bending Lamps (DBL) and intuitive High Beam Assist (HBA), which recognizes oncoming traffic and automatically switches the lights to low beam until the opposing vehicle has passed.

Smart Performance and Safety
The 2016 Optima features a uniquely engineered body that combines various high-tensile strength steel alloys and sits on a chassis that is stiffer and more durable thanks to the increased use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS).  With more than 50 percent of the body constructed from AHSS, the all-new Optima represents a 150-percent increase over the previous car.   The greater use of structural adhesive by more than 450 percent over the previous generation improves NVH and contributes to structural rigidity.  Engineers also added more hot stamped components to the all-new Optima, a 350-percent increase over the 2015 model.  This body structure helps provide crash protection, better driving dynamics, and is the foundation for a quieter ride.

Additional innovations were implemented to reduce NVH, lighten the vehicle and enhance aerodynamics.  The 2016 Optima is the first Kia to feature a panoramic sunroof support structure made with carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, which helps reduce weight and lower the vehicle’s center of gravity.  A larger full floor under cover helps reduce wind noise and aid fuel efficiency.  Increased dash insulation, added windshield side molding and the increased use of structural adhesive ensure a quiet ride with reduced road and wind noise.  Engine mounts, body panels and wheels all are stiffer on the all-new Optima, reducing vibrations, engine noise and road noise.  Larger cross-member bushings are utilized to help isolate road and engine noise, as well as reducing engine vibration through the floor and steering wheel.

Improving ride and handling was a top priority for engineers.  Overall, the chassis is lighter and stiffer, resulting in improved steering response, high-speed stability and handling.  Moving the suspension location points of the front and rear sub-frames outward optimizes suspension geometry for a smoother ride over uneven pavement.  Where the previous Optima made due with dual bushing mounts, increased lateral stiffness was achieved with a four-bushing mount system for both sub-frames.  The increased stiffness pays dividends in improved steering response and tractability through corners.  More robust wheel bearings up front and the addition of larger dual lower control arms at the rear also help refine the all-new Optima’s ride and handling characteristics.  Available Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) improves steering response with a higher gear ratio.

The all-new Optima is available with three engine choices, striking a performance balance between sportiness and fuel efficiency.  Two powerplants carry over from the previous generation, the 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder, available on the LX and EX models, and the 2.0-liter GDI turbo engine, available on the SXL and SX Turbo models.  While the engines have yet to receive EPA certification, the 2.4-liter is estimated to produce 185 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 178 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm.  The 2.0-liter turbo is expected to generate approximately 247 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,350 rpm.  Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic^® shifting while the SX and SXL trims add paddle shifters.  Both engines have been retuned for fuel economy⁹ and better performance and drivability with maximum torque now available at a lower RPM.

All new for the 2016 model is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine.  The 1.6-liter will be offered on the LX trim.  Pushing out an estimated 178 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a stout 195 lb.-ft. of torque at just 1,500 rpm, the new engine mates to a seven-speed DCT, a first for the Kia brand.  The transmission optimizes the engine’s responsiveness for a sporty feel that doesn’t sacrifice fuel economy.  Also new for the Optima, Michelin^®10tires are available on all trims.  All three engines channel energy through the front wheels.

ALL-NEW KIA OPTIMA HIGH-CLASS CABIN AND CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

• Evolutionary design and cutting edge technology for all-new Kia Optima
• Refined new interior with higher quality materials
• More space for every passenger in new cabin
• 50% stronger bodyshell and a range of new active safety technologies
• Smooth ride and more agile handling, with optional electronic suspension
• Choice of petrol and upgraded diesel engines, plug-in hybrid to follow
• Lower emissions from advanced seven-speed double-clutch transmission
• New technologies include wireless phone charging and connected services

The all-new Kia Optima will be unveiled in European specification at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on 15 September 2015.

The fourth-generation Optima, which will go on sale across Europe in Q4 2015, boasts a modern, new exterior, a bold interior design with more space for all occupants, an array of new technologies and a wide choice of efficient powertrains. The new model will offer greater refinement and improved ride and handling over the outgoing model, while retaining the sporty image that has helped Optima become one of Kia’s best-selling models worldwide.

The Kia Optima plays an important role in the Kia Motors Europe product line-up, introducing the brand to an increasing number of new customers. Since the third-generation model launched in 2011, with its distinctive look, high quality interior and high-tech image, the Optima has offered buyers something fresh and different in the D-segment.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, commented: “When the current Kia Optima arrived on the global stage in 2010, it acted as the catalyst for the five-year, design-led transformation of Kia’s product range. Its combination of technology, design and refinement added greater depth to our model line-up and fundamentally changed the way that people saw the Kia brand.”

Cole added: “The all-new Optima retains the unique personality of its predecessor, and improvements to every aspect of the car will make it an even more compelling proposition to buyers – private and fleet – across Europe. It truly offers motorists something fresh, in a segment that’s typically among the most conservative.”

Evolutionary design keeps all-new Optima at the cutting edge

The exterior styling of the all-new Kia Optima was a question of balance for Kia’s global design teams. The all-new Optima maintains the athletic identity that made it so popular, while making a confident leap forward to attract car buyers looking for something different.

Conceived under the watchful eye of Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors, the all-new Optima offers more road presence than ever, with its contemporary surface detailing, sharp body lines and creases, and a more elongated sedan silhouette.

The all-new Optima’s evolutionary new look was designed to be functional and sporty, with exterior dimensions that are marginally longer, taller and wider. The wheelbase has been extended by 10 mm to 2,805 mm, with the full vehicle length growing 10 mm to 4,855 mm. Meanwhile the new model is 25 mm wider, at 1,860 mm, and 10 mm taller (1,465 mm). These changes enable a roomier and more comfortable cabin, with more head-, shoulder- and rear-seat leg-room and greater cargo capacity. From a styling perspective, the new dimensions afforded Kia’s designers the chance to introduce a more swept-back, dynamic shape.

Instantly recognisable as a Kia, the all-new Optima integrates the brand’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille with the longer, wider, wrap-around headlamps, pulled taut over the blistered wheel arches. The bumper swells into bold right angles around the front fog lamps, adding greater volume to the lower part of the ‘face’ and giving the car a more stable, wider look.

In profile, the glass area maintains the raked A-pillar and sweeping C-pillar that define the Optima’s sports-sedan appearance, with the rear quarter light kicking up smartly as the shoulder line extends towards the raised boot lid. The shoulder line itself is an extension of the parallel followed by the front headlamps, forming a clean, straight light that connects front and rear. The deeply-sculptured body panels of the doors curve fluently into slightly extended side sills, again increasing the visual weight around the skirt of the Optima.

The LED halo-style tail lamps wrap around the corners of the rear of the all-new Optima, and give the car a modern, new light signature. The athletic appearance of the car is boosted by a rising, spoiler-shaped boot lid and an expansive rear bumper which houses a sporty-looking air diffuser and oval exhaust.

This attractive new design makes the fourth-generation model the most aerodynamic Optima to date, with drag reduced from 0.3 to 0.29 Cd. The all-new Optima will be available in Europe in a choice of nine paint colours, and will ride on alloy wheels ranging from 16- to 18-inches in diameter.

The all-new Kia Optima range will be developed further in future, with the addition of a new body style, inspired by the Kia SPORTSPACE concept car shown at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show.

Refined new interior with more modern design and higher quality

Drawing inspiration from Kia’s global range of models, the all-new Optima boasts a more luxurious, driver-focused interior than ever before, with features and technologies typically associated with the class above. The new cabin is crafted with an obsessive attention to detail, and represents the biggest step forward for the new model.

Kia’s design team focused on delivering a thoroughly modern interior look and feel, with the cabin offering a cleaner, more unified design than the previous generation. The dashboard is spread along a more horizontal plane and a wider central console, creating a greater sense of spaciousness.

The material quality of the all-new Optima’s cabin is significantly improved over the outgoing model, with a far higher proportion of soft-touch materials, as well as cloth and leather trim in natural tones. Tasteful metallic accents throughout the cabin add a higher quality ambience to the interior, while greater application of soundproofing ensures refinement is better than ever.

The dashboard is divided into an upper ‘display’ zone and a lower ‘control’ zone, ensuring drivers need never take their eyes off the road in order to see the key information displayed. The central fascia is angled 8.5 degrees towards the driver, with the upper ‘display’ zone housing a new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and lower ‘control’ zone offering fewer buttons than the outgoing Optima to manage the various cabin functions that aren’t already built into the touchscreen.

The console is finished in gloss black, with a dash of chrome running the length of the dashboard, dividing the display and control zones and lending the interior to single or two-tone colour schemes. Customers are able to choose from either single-tone (black) or two-tone (black with stone beige, or dark grey with light grey) cloth or leather trim.

More space for every passenger in refined new cabin

The larger interior and exterior dimensions of the fourth-generation Optima ensure that the all-new model is the most practical, spacious and comfortable yet.

With the 10 mm growth in the wheelbase of the all-new Optima, and reshaped seats, rear passengers now enjoy 25 mm more legroom than before. The wider body yields more shoulder room for all passengers (20 mm and 17 mm extra in front and rear), while the longer, higher roof results in greater headroom throughout the cabin (+5 mm and +15 mm front and rear)

In reshaping the front and rear seats, the interior design team also paid particular attention to seat comfort. Stiffer seat frames reduce the level of vibrations through the seats while improving seat durability and reducing the weight of each seat by 2.6 kg, while softer foam in the headrests, upper back and under-thigh supports allows occupants to nestle into the seats more comfortably. In the front, deeper side bolsters are made up of denser, more supportive foam.

Rear passengers also get their own heater, while pull-up sun shades built into the rear door trim let passengers cut out bright light when easing to sleep in the comfortable seats.

Cargo space in the all-new Optima has grown from 505 to 510 litres (VDA), with the under-floor storage area and a wider boot opening adding greater practicality.

50% stronger bodyshell and new active safety technologies

The all-new Optima features a uniquely engineered body which combines more high-strength materials than ever before, resulting in even higher standards of crash safety. While passive safety is improved, the new model is also equipped with a series of high-tech active and autonomous safety features, and Kia’s engineers have targeted a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating throughout the Optima’s development programme.

The bodyshell of the all-new Optima is stronger than ever thanks to the more extensive use of ultra-high tensile steel (UHTS). 50% of the body is now made up of UHTS – representing a 150% increase over that of the previous car (20%) – and boasts a 450% increase in the amount of structural adhesive used. The result is that torsional rigidity has been improved by 50% over the model that it replaces, while the body shell is also 8.6 kg lighter. The higher-strength steel alloys have been applied to reinforce the A and B-pillars, side sills, roof, floor, front wheel arches and rear bulkhead, boosting the all-round structural integrity of the body.

Passive safety is further improved for occupants with the total number of airbags increasing to seven. The all-new Optima will be fitted as standard with driver, driver knee, passenger, two front side and two curtain airbags.

The all-new Optima will be a strong performer in global safety tests thanks to its suite of new technologies designed to avoid or mitigate the effects of a collision.

Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) is fitted as standard, ensuring stability under braking and cornering by controlling the car’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and electric motor-driven power steering if it detects a loss of traction.

The all-new Optima is available with a wide range of optional active hazard-avoidance technologies, depending on market. These will include:

• Advanced Smart Cruise Control (SCC), which automatically adjusts the Optima’s speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles in front
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)*, which employs a long-range radar detection system to detect a potential collision with another vehicle or pedestrian and help bring the car to a halt
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), which detects the Optima’s position in relation to lane markings and takes automatic corrective action if it senses the car starting to draft without the use of indicators
• High Beam Assist (HBA), which automatically adjusts headlamp range according to other vehicles and road conditions
• Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF), displaying the speed limit in the driver’s instrument cluster based on cameras detecting roadside signs
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD), with a visual warning in the door mirror when another car enters the driver’s blind spot
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns against other cars driving behind the Optima in car parks while reversing.

The all-new Kia Optima’s AEB system is unique in its segment in Europe for offering not just a short-range radar, but also a longer-range unit which is able to identify cars and pedestrians further away and at higher speeds than many competitors. The short-range ‘City’ radar helps drivers to avoid or mitigate the effects of front collisions when travelling under 50 kph, while the longer-range ‘Urban’ radar enables the Optima to detect and respond to obstacles at speeds between 30 and 80 kph. The AEB system’s pedestrian-detection function is designed to identify pedestrians when travelling up to 60 kph and reduce the risk of a collision.

Greater overall refinement as development teams reduce NVH

Reinforcing the need to provide a calm and relaxing driving environment, the all-new Optima boasts greater refinement than ever before, with considerable efforts made by development teams to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

Some of the most important innovations to reduce NVH include a larger under-floor cover and more effective windshield seals, each of which help to reduce wind noise by 2% while aiding aerodynamics and, ultimately, fuel efficiency. Increased dashboard insulation helps to reduce the level of engine noise in the cabin by around 4%, aided by general improvements to the acoustic refinement of most engines in the range. Larger cross-member bushings, front and rear, also isolate road noise, while reducing the level of vibration through the floor and steering wheel.

The new body, with the increased application of high-strength steel alloys, plays a major part in raising refinement levels. With a more rigid frame and stiffer body panels and engine mounts, the Optima successfully reduces the level of vibration through the cabin. 83% stiffer alloy wheels further cut vibrations resulting from contact with poor road surfaces. In turn, the stiffer body and wheels have enabled Kia engineers to make subtle changes to the car’s suspension geometry to further isolate vibrations and road noise without compromising the car’s dynamic abilities.

Smoother ride, more agile handling, and optional electronic suspension system

Improving ride and handling was a top priority for Kia’s dynamic development teams, with a focus on delivering the ride comfort and stability that customers expect from a D-segment sedan, while achieving the level of agility promised by the car’s sportier appearance. With a lighter, stiffer chassis, the suspension is better able to isolate vibrations and bumps from poor road surfaces, while a series of upgrades to the suspension set-up helps to blend agile handling with an improvement in ride comfort.

With fully-independent suspension all-round, Kia’s engineers have moved the front and rear subframe mounting points further out towards the edge of the vehicle for a smoother ride over uneven surfaces. The front suspension has been upgraded from two bushing mounts to four to increase lateral stiffness, with more robust wheel bearings completing the front suspension changes. The result is improved responses to steering inputs and greater traction around corners, while further reducing the time it takes for the suspension to settle after a more significant jolt in the road.

At the rear, the all-new Optima receives larger dual lower arms – the previous generation Optima’s suspension was connected to the chassis with single links on each side – mounted with thicker, more absorbent bushings. Further defining the Optima’s ride and handling characteristics, these changes have helped engineers achieve greater stability for the all-new model, and improved bump absorption. These upgrades are aided in part by the small increase to the all-new Optima’s wheelbase.

The all-new Optima is fitted with a new rack-mounted electric motor-driven power steering system (R-MDPS), available as standard for European models fitted with the 1.7-litre CRDi engine. Mounted directly on the steering rack, rather than on the column, the new R-MDPS provides greater steering feel and quicker, more linear responses to driver inputs – particularly around the centre. This upgrade to the steering results in sharper handling characteristics, placing it among the most agile cars in the D-segment.

For the all-new Optima, customers can also specify an optional electronic controlled suspension system with internal valves (ECS), to deliver ride and handling tailored exclusively to the tastes of European drivers. ECS employs internal valves for each of the four dampers, and is connected to a G-force sensor in the ECU and two G-force sensors built into the front wheels. Using these sensors, ECS detects steering inputs and accelerator pedal position, and monitors road conditions, to adapt the suspension for a firmer, sportier ride or for greater comfort – drivers can choose from ‘sport’ and ‘normal’ modes accordingly. The system provides individualised damping force for each wheel more quickly than ever before. ECS will be available from launch on models fitted with the 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engine.

Kia Connected Services and wireless phone charging among new technologies

The all-new Optima debuts a number of new, advanced on-board technologies to improve usability, comfort and convenience. The new technologies featured in the all-new Optima make it the one of the most innovative cars in the D-segment.

Kia’s latest audio-visual navigation (AVN) system introduces a more modern appearance at the centre of the dashboard. Buyers can choose between 7.0- or 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment and satellite navigation systems, each supporting the addition of DAB digital radio, which is available across a number of European markets.

At the heart of the AVN system is the new Kia Connected Services package, offering a wide range of up-to-date, driver-oriented information. Provided by technology company TomTom, the new connectivity features include live traffic updates, speed camera alerts, local search and weather forecasts. Providing useful real-time information, Kia Connected Services will enhance the safety, comfort and enjoyment of every journey. In Europe, the system will be available to Optima buyers free of charge for seven years after the car’s purchase.

The touchscreen infotainment system is paired with a six-speaker audio system as standard. A powerful 590 watt Harman Kardon Premium Sound system, featuring 10 speakers, an external amplifier and Clari-Fi MP3 restoration technology, is also available as an option. This new Harman Kardon surround sound option will allow music lovers to transform the cabin of their all-new Optima into their own personal concert hall.

A first for any car in the D-segment, the all-new Optima will be available with a new wireless charger for mobile devices, allowing the new model to meet the increasing demand from car buyers – particularly in this class – for new convenience technologies. Located at the base of the central console, the wireless charger lets users charge their phone on the move, without a wire connection. With ‘foreign object detection’, the 5W charging system activates when a compatible device is placed on the pad, and warns car security-conscious owners when they’ve left a phone on the charger as they leave the vehicle. The system displays the phone’s charging condition on the instrument cluster, and features a safety system to prevent overheating while in use.

The all-new Optima also features two USB charging points, one in the front and one in the rear, to allow passengers to charge mobile devices, depending on trim level.

Depending on market, other new available features will include: 360-degree Around View Monitor, with four cameras helping the driver to manoeuvre when parking by displaying a birds-eye view of the Optima on the touchscreen; Smart Parking Assist System (SPAS), which parks the car automatically in parallel and perpendicular spaces and helps drivers safely leave a parking space; and Dynamic Bending Headlamps, which sweep the road ahead in line with the steering wheel for greater visibility and improved safety at night.

Choice of petrol and upgraded diesel engines, and plug-in hybrid to follow

The all-new Optima will be available with a range of engines when it goes on sale across Europe later this year, striking a balance between performance and efficiency. Driving the front wheels, every engine in the range is compliant with the latest Euro 6 emission standard, resulting in cleaner emissions. The all-new Optima is popular among both private and fleet buyers, and the fourth-generation model offers the choice of either a diesel or petrol engine, each engineered to meet the varying needs of all types of customers.

The upgraded 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engine is expected to account for the majority of European sales from launch. Carried over from the existing model, it receives a range of modifications for its application in the all-new Optima, resulting in greater power output and torque, and reduced emissions.

Now producing 141 ps (up from 136 ps) and 340 Nm torque (increased from 325 Nm), the upgraded 1.7-litre diesel engine offers an improvement to engine response, low end torque, efficiency and NVH. The upgraded engine boasts far lower CO₂ emissions, reduced by 14% to 110 g/km (when fitted with manual transmission and Kia’s Idle Stop/Go fuel-saving technology).

A new electronically-controlled variable-geometry turbocharger actuator results in more efficient turbocharging for improved accelerator response and greater low-end torque. Maximum torque is now available from 1,750-2,500 rpm, offering greater drivability over a broader range of engine speeds – peak torque in the outgoing Optima was accessible from 2,000-2,500 rpm. A new piston coating reduces friction throughout the four cylinders, while a new timing chain crank sprocket reduces engine noise, in line with the additional soundproofing throughout the car.

The all-new Optima is also available with the same 2.0-litre CVVL engine as the outgoing model, featuring continuously variable valve lift technology for smooth delivery of its 163 ps power output and accelerative response.

A wider range of powertrains are currently under development by Kia, which will lead to the 2016 launch of a high-efficiency plug-in hybrid electric Optima, as well as Kia Motors Europe’s first high performance sedan.

(Please be aware some engines will not be available in the UK. Full UK specification will follow)

Lower emissions from advanced new seven-speed DCT

The all-new Optima features the brand’s advanced new seven-speed double-clutch transmission (DCT), recently launched in the enhanced Kia cee’d and available exclusively on models fitted with the best-selling 1.7-litre CRDi diesel. Kia’s new DCT is capable of handling the higher torque outputs of the turbodiesel engine and has been engineered to offer a sportier driving experience with instant gear changes.

Kia’s new DCT has been developed in-house, engineered for low fuel consumption and a sporty driving feel when in manual mode, and with comfort and smoothness when left in automatic mode.

Drivers specifying the new DCT will benefit from faster gear changes than a traditional automatic transmission, as well as lower running costs. When equipped with the new DCT, the 1.7-litre CRDi engine sees its CO₂ emissions drop to 116 g/km, a 40 g/km improvement over the outgoing Optima fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission. This 25% improvement to the car’s CO₂ output ensures best-in-class emissions for a diesel automatic.

The 1.7-litre CRDi is also available with a six-speed manual transmission, while the 2.0-litre CVVL engine can be specified with either six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

2016 Kia Optima on-sale from Q4 2015

The all-new Kia Optima will go on sale across Europe in Q4 2015, offering the company’s unique 7-Year, 150,000 km warranty as standard.The all-new Optima for Europe will be built at Kia’s plant in Hwasung, Korea.

ALL NEW KIA OPTIMA – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS (EUROPE)

Body and chassis

Four-door, five-seater sedan, with all-steel unitary construction bodyshell. Choice of diesel and petrol four-cylinder engines driving the front wheels via manual or automatic transmission – depending on model.

Engines

2.0-litre / 163 ps CVVL Petrol

Type	Four cylinder in-line, naturally aspirated
Capacity	2.0-litres, 1,999 cc
Bore and stroke	81.0 x 97.0 mm
Compression ratio	10.3:1
Max power	163 ps (120 kW) @ 6,500 rpm
Max torque	196 Nm (145 lb ft) @ 4,800 rpm
Valves	16 (four per cylinder)
Fuel system	Continuously variable valve lift
Emissions class	Euro Stage 6b

1.7-litre / 141 ps CRDi Diesel

Type	DOHC, four cylinder in-line, turbocharged
Capacity	1.7-litres, 1,685 cc
Bore and stroke	77.2 x 90.0 mm
Compression ratio	15.7:1
Max power	141 ps (104 kW) @ 4,000 rpm
Max torque	340 Nm (251 lb ft) @ 1,750-2,500 rpm
Valves	16 (four per cylinder)
Fuel system	Common-rail direct injection
Emissions class	Euro Stage 6b

Transmissions

	2.0 CVVL	1.7 CRDi
Manual	6-sp	6-sp
Automatic	6-sp	7DCT

Gear ratios

	2.0 CVVL		1.7 CRDi
	MT	AT	MT	AT
1	3.615	4.400	3.615	3.786
2	2.080	2.726	1.931	2.261
3	1.387	1.834	1.696	1.957
4	1.079	1.392	1.241	1.023
5	0.884	1.000	0.921	0.778
6	0.744	0.774	0.780	0.837
7	—	—	—	0.681
Reverse	3.000	3.440	3.731	5.074
Final Drive 1	4.533	3.383	3.765	3.158

Suspension and damping

Front	Fully-independent by subframe-mounted MacPherson struts, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, with anti-roll stabiliser bar
Rear	Fully-independent by subframe-mounted double wishbones, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers, with anti-roll stabiliser bar

Steering

	2.0 CVVL	1.7 CRDi
Gearing	14.34:1	13.29:1
Turns, lock-to-lock	2.78	2.6
Turning circle	5.45 metres
Type	Electric motor-driven rack-and-pinion power steering
2.0 CVVL	Column-mounted electric motor (C-MDPS)
1.7 CRDi	Rack-mounted electric motor (R-MDPS)

Brakes

Front	280~300 mm ventilated discs
Rear	262 mm solid discs

Wheels and tyres

Standard	Alloy 16-inch, 215/60 R16 tyres
Optional	Alloy 17-inch, 215/55 R17 tyres Alloy 18-inch, 235/45 R18 tyres
Spare	Tyre mobility kit

Dimensions (mm)

Exterior

Overall length	4,855	Overall width*	1,860
Overall height	1,465	Wheelbase	2,805
Front track	1,607	Rear track	1,614
Front overhang	965	Rear overhang	1,085
Ground clearance	135
*excluding door mirrors
**on 16-inch wheels

Interior

	1st row	2nd row
Head room	1,020	970
Leg room	1,155	905
Shoulder room	1,475	1,432
Hip room	1,423	1,422

Capacities

Fuel tank	70 litres
Luggage (VDA)	510 litres

Weights (kg)

	2.0 CVVL		1.7 CRDi
	MT	AT	MT	AT
Curb weight	1,455	1,470	1,515	1,530
Gross weight	2,000	2,020	2,070	2,080
Tow capacity, braked	1,700	1,300	1,800	1,500
Tow capacity, unbraked	750	650	750	750

Performance

	2.0 CVVL		1.7 CRDi
	MT	AT	MT	AT
Top speed (kph)	210	208	203	203
0-100 kph (secs)	9.4	10.5	10.0	11.0

Economy (litres / 100 km)*

	2.0 CVVL		1.7 CRDi
	MT	AT	MT	MT**	AT
Combined	7.4	7.5	4.6	4.2	4.4
Extra-urban	5.9	5.7	4.1	3.7	4.1
Urban	10.0	10.6	5.6	5.1	5.1
CO2 (g/km)	173	175	121	110	116
*on 16-inch wheels
**with Idle Stop/Go package

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts

* The Sorento and Optima GDI (EX, SX & Limited and certain LX Trims only) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts

1 2015 K900 V8 available in select trims and in select markets with limited availability.

2 Warning: Driving while distracted can result in a loss of vehicle control that may lead to an accident, severe personal injury and death. Always drive safely and use caution.