Kia Optima 2011 revealed

The 2011 Kia Optima will replace the Kia Magentis in the UK

A week or two ago we reported on the first info on the 2011 Kia Magentis we expected to see at the New York Motor Show this week. But because we thought that Kia would change the name before bringing it to the UK and Europe, we headed that story up with both the Optima and Magentis moniker. But not this time.

This time we’ve chosen to use the US name – Kia Optima – as Kia has sent a press release out in the UK that is headed up ‘All New Kia Optima Launches in New York’, which sort of makes it clear this is not going to be the Magentis any more. And the press release goes on to say that “…Optima replaces Magentis in UK product line-up”, which makes it all crystal clear.

The 2011 Kia Optima uses the same underpinnings as the Hyundai i40/i45/Sonata and fits in to the D-Segment in europe, pitching it in to the firing line of the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. Not the easiest place to compete – a fact Kia happily acknowledge – but one they are determined to have a presence in.

It’s also starting to look like Kia are going to move in a similar direction to PSA with Citroen and Peugeot. For PSA, there is a move to redfine Citroen as the ‘Luxury’ arm and Peugeot as the ‘Sporty’ one. It seems Kia and Hyundai are heading the same way with Kia looking to take on a bit of a ‘Sporty’ mantle. Mind you, they are going to divvy up a hybrid version of the 2011 Optima, but it will have a decent amount of power.

The Kia Optima will launch in the UK in 2011 and come with the option of a 1.7 litre VGT CRDi or 2.0 litre CV VL petrol. It blooks like at some point there will be a hybrid option of offer and there are rumours that there will also be a Kia Optima Estate and even a Kia Optima Coupe.

Even more detail in the 2011 Kia Optima Press Release.

By Cars UK