Kia South Africa is riding high on the back of successfulproducts like the Picanto, Sorentoand Sportage. With the new Optima ithopes to keep the wave 9 metreshigh. To kick off, the four-door sedan will launch at the 2011 JohannesburgInternational Motor Show (JIMS 2011).
Optima was first brought into the public’s attention at the2010 New York Auto Show. Three models are available in other countries; a 2.4-litre GDI, 2.0-litre and a hybrid. The2.4-litre is naturally aspirated and switches on 149kW, while the 2.0-litre GDI turbo has enough to stick out 204kW. There’s either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. KiaSA hasn’t confirmed which of these will come here in 2012.
“With the all-new Optima, our global design team, under thedirection of Chief Design Officer, PeterSchreyer, has created a truly unique vehicle with distinctivedimensions and proportions tochallenge the D-segment. The Optima will challenge German brands currently dominating this segment, and provideconsumers with an alternative, when shopping for a luxurious, mid-size sedan”, saidKia SA National Marketing Manager David Sieff.
What Sieff is saying, is that Kia is headed for a head-on with the usual suspects; AudiA4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-BenzC-Class.
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