SYDNEY: Local specs and prices of Kia will be announced closer to launch date. They claim it has more space, comfort and safety technology, better handling and ride.
And the upgraded 1.7-litre diesel is cleaner and greener. Emissions are down 14pc to 110 g/km with the manual transmission. Power in the 1.7-litre diesel is up to 141PS from 136PS and torque to 340 Nm from 325 Nm.
As well as manual there is a new 7spd double-clutch transmission (DCT). With it, emissions drop to 116g/km, a significant 40g/km improvement on the existing 6spd automatic.
And there are more powertrains under development – especially a plug-in hybrid electric next year.
The new Optima is a shade longer, taller and wider (25mm) with the wheelbase up 10mm to 2,805mm. The extra wheelbase and reshaped seats mean rear passengers get 25mm more legroom and more shoulder room all round.
They have managed to reduce the weight of each seat by 2.6kg.
The cabin is said to be a marked improvement on the current one with better quality materials.
The dashboard has two zones: upper for ‘display’ and lower for ‘control’. The fascia is dominated by a new 8ins touchscreen infotainment system.
There are seven airbags as standard: driver, driver knee, passenger, two front side and two curtain airbags. Among the safety systems is one with short-range and longer-range radar to identify cars and pedestrians further away and at higher speeds.
There is fully-independent suspension all-round and the body is 50pc stiffer thanks to wider use of high-tensile steel.
