KIA OPTIMA COMES TO SA IN 2012

Kia South Africa is riding high on the back of successful products like the Picanto, Sorento and Sportage. With the new Optima it hopes to keep the wave 9 metres high. To kick off, the four-door sedan will launch at the 2011 Johannesburg International Motor Show (JIMS 2011).

Optima was first brought into the public’s attention at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Three models are available in other countries; a 2.4-litre GDI, 2.0-litre and a hybrid. The 2.4-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. Kia SA hasn’t confirmed which of these will come here in 2012.

“With the all-new Optima, our global design team, under the direction of Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, has created a truly unique vehicle with distinctive dimensions and proportions to challenge the D-segment. The Optima will challenge German brands currently dominating this segment, and provide consumers with an alternative, when shopping for a luxurious, mid-size sedan”, said Kia SA National Marketing Manager David Sieff.

What Sieff is saying, is that Kia is headed for a head-on with the usual suspects; Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.