Kia Optima debuts at New York International Auto Show

Conceived under the watchful eye of Kia's President and Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, the Optima maintains its athletic identity with modern and instantly recognisable design cues, but rides on a chassis that is longer, wider and stiffer for improved ride and handling as well as a more spacious cabin.

The all new Optima is boldly designed to be functional and sporty with exterior dimensions that are marginally longer, taller and wider. The wheelbase has been extended to 2,804mm (increase of 10mm), and the vehicle has been widened to 1,900mm (increase of 25mm).

Both changes enable a roomier and more comfortable cabin with more head, shoulder and rear seat legroom. The increased dimensions also allow for more luggage capacity in the boot.

The 2016 Optima features a uniquely engineered body that combines various high-tensile strength steel alloys and sits on a chassis that is stiffer and more durable thanks to the increased use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). With more than 50 percent of the body constructed from AHSS, the all new Optima benefits from a 150 percent increase in the use of this material over the previous car.

Overall, the chassis is lighter and stiffer, resulting in improved steering response, high-speed stability and handling. Moving the suspension location points of the front and rear sub-frames outward optimises suspension geometry for a smoother ride over uneven pavement. Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering improves steering response with a higher gear ratio. The all new Optima also introduces Kia's first application of bi-functional HID head lights - with available Dynamic Bending Lamps and High Beam Assist - that illuminate the road surface around corners.

Two powerplants have been carried over from the previous generation - the 2.4-litre GDI four-cylinder and the 2.0-litre GDI turbo engine. The 2.4-litre is estimated to produce 185bhp at 6,000rpm and 241Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The 2.0-litre turbo is expected to generate approximately 247bhp at 6,000rpm and 352Nm of torque at 1,350rpm. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic shifting while some variants feature paddle shifters.

All new for the 2016 model is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine delivering an estimated 178bhp at 5,500rpm and a stout 264Nm of torque at just 1,500rpm. The new engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a first for the Kia brand.