THERE’S nothing like a late night car story to excite the masses, and we’re here to tell you, in the whee small hours of 13 November, that we can now show you the brand new 2016 Kia Optima GT.
Kia’s mid-sized Optima, the car that stunned the world with it’s million-dollar looks and mainstream pricing in it’s third generation five years ago, has taken another giant step forward with the all-new fourth generation – with the introduction of the turbo-charged GT.
“As good as the third generation Optima is, the new car is going to truly lift the bar on what Kia brings to the table for a family sedan,” Kia Australia’s Damien Meredith said. “By any demonstrable measure this is a giant step forward for the Optima.”
Improved safety, convenience, technology, ride, handling and quality are hallmarks of the new Optima, which will launch in Australia with two engine specifications, the proven 2.4-litre naturally aspirated 4-cylinder (138kW and 241Nm) in the Si and the new all-aluminium T-GDI 2.0-litre turbocharged GT – boasting 180kW and 350Nm.
The T-GDI features a high-efficiency twin-scroll turbocharger, high pressure fuel pump, dual continuously variable valve timing technology and laser-drilled injectors for the best possible balance between engine performance and efficiency. Both engines will drive the front wheels through Kia’s bespoke in-house six-speed automatic transmission.
Featuring a modern, new exterior, a bold interior design with more space for all occupants and an array of new technologies while retaining many of the classic styling lines and the sporty image that has helped the Optima become one of Kia’s best-selling models worldwide, the latest generation of the car offers greater refinement, improved ride and handling and higher quality over the outgoing model.
The Kia Optima plays an important role in the Kia Motors product line-up, introducing the brand to an increasing number of new customers. Since the third-generation model launched in 2010, with its distinctive look, high quality interior and high-tech image, the Optima has offered buyers something fresh and different in the D-segment.
It acted as the catalyst for the five-year, design-led transformation of Kia’s product range, with a combination of technology, design and refinement changing the way people saw the Kia brand.
Optima will be offered in six premium paint colours – Gravity Blue (new), Platinum Graphite, Silky Silver, Aurora Black, Snow White Pearl and Temptation Red – as well as a non-premium Clear White. Premium paint is an additional $595 over the recommended retail price. It hits the market at $34,490 for the Si, and $43,990 for the turbo GT.
