2011 Kia Magentis / Kia Optima revealed

Kia has revealed the 2011 Kia Optima / Kia Magentis ahead of a reveal at the New York Motor Show in April

You might reasonably expect that Kia are teasing the 2011 Kia Magentis (or Kia Optima, as it is in the US) ahead of a reveal at the Geneva Motor Show. After all, every other car maker is at it at the moment. But Kia are teasing this ahead of the next big motor show after Geneva – the 2010 New York Motor Show – which isn’t until April.

The Kia Magentis is Kia’s take on the latest Hyundai – the Hyundai i40, or is it the Hyundai i45? That said, although it will no doubt get the same underpinnings as the Hyundai it will have its own look penned by Kia’s designer Peter Schreyer.

According to Kia, the new 2011 Magentis has a “…bold, athletic and sporty visual energy” and that it will be bigger than the current generation Magentis – although it will be lower – which means more room for both passengers and luggage. The 2011 Magentis also sets design cues for future Kia models.

Kia are planning to release the Optima in the US later in 2010 and the Magentis in Europe in early 2011. But we do wonder if they’re going to bother differentiating the names when the new car launches. It would be more logical to follow Hyundai’s lead and start to give their cars numbers instead, Still, that’s just as confusing with Hyndai as we don’t know whether the new mid size saloon from them will be the i40 or the i45. Even if it is still the Sonata in some markets.

Come on guys, the world’s one big car market now. Rationalise your nomenclature so we’re all sure we’re on the same page.

By Cars UK