Kia announces engines for the new Optima

The new Kia Optima was launched at the New York Motor Show in April, and is expected to go on sale later this year, competing against the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Opel Insignia and Volkswagen Passat sedans.

Kia has now announced the range of engines available for the Optima in various markets. Western Europe is expected to be offered with a 2.0-litre CVVL petrol engine and a 1.7-litre VGT turbo diesel unit, with performance and output figures yet to be revealed. Russia and Eastern Europe meanwhile will get an additional 2.4-litre MPI petrol powerplant that produces 178bhp.

In America, the Kia Optima will come with a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit that puts out 278bhp, as well as a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with direct injection that churns out 203bhp. Transmission options for the Optima is either a six-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic transmission with Kia's "Sport-matic" clutchless manual shifting.