Kia Optima launched in Oz

The new Kia Optima has been launched in Australia, introducing a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine and upgraded suspension tuned for local roads.

Kia is positioning the new Optima above the fleet-level pricing of bare-bones medium passenger sedans. According to Damien Meredith, COO for Kia Australia, the Optima is projected to sell around 250 cars a month – or to put it another way, 3000 a year. Toyota's Camry sold over 22,000 units last year, but Kia is not setting out to take high-volume fleet business away from the Optima's rival in the Toyota camp.

"The direction that was given to our product planning team was to put in as much specification as possible," Meredith told local journalists present for the launch of the Optima earlier this week.

"We knew that obviously Camry is coming to an end with local production, so there was no good focusing on a price point at all. We assumed correctly that Camry was going to be very sharp in its pricing..."

"We wanted to build specification... We're not frightened of [Optima's] price points..."

That's why, in essence, the Optima is rolled out in a two-tier hierarchy, rather than three levels of trim. The base Optima Si will account for as little as 35 per cent of sales initially, but as the early demand for the turbocharged Optima GT eases, the sales split will adjust closer to 50/50 for the two variants.

Priced at $34,490, the Optima Si is the model Kia expects to snare some fleet business, but more along the lines of small fleets and user choosers. Kia is not ignoring fleets altogether, it's just not prepared to get down in the trenches with the big fleets demanding hugely discounted prices. The importer acknowledges that its seven-year warranty and improving retained values have made its product range more appealing to some fleets.

Aimed more at private buyers, the Optima GT is priced at $43,990, and this car will likely account for 65 per cent of Optima sales in the first 12 months on sale, but at some point after that it will settle down to an equal share of sales with the Optima Si.

The entry-level Optima carries over the 2.4-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine from the previous generation, but this powerplant has been revised for improved performance (138kW and 241Nm) at lower engine speeds. It drives through a six-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels and is rated at 8.3L/100km in combined-cycle fuel consumption testing.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder in the Optima GT produces 180kW and 350Nm. While the power peaks at the same engine speed as the 2.4-litre mill (6000rpm), torque reaches its peak from as low as 1400rpm, and remains constant right up to 4000rpm. Also driving through a six-speed automatic transmission, the turbo engine consumes fuel at the rate of 8.5L/100km.

The automatic is specified with different ratios from first to fourth, with shorter ratios for the turbocharged engine to deliver stronger acceleration. Fifth is direct drive in both cars, and sixth is the same overdrive ratio, 0.772:1. The final drive ratio is the same for both cars also.

Kia's engineers have developed an entirely new structure for the Optima, adding plenty of high-strength steel for improved crash safety, and a significant proportion of that high-strength steel reinforcing the A and B pillars. Dimensions have grown across the board, with 10mm increases in length (4855mm), height (1465mm) and wheelbase (2805mm). The new Optima is also 25mm wider (now 1860mm). At 1650kg, the Optima GT's kerb weight is 65kg heavier than the Optima Si at 1585kg. That reflects the higher level of specification in the Optima GT.

With electrically-assisted rack and pinion steering – a column mounted motor for the Si, versus rack-mounted for the GT – the Optima can negotiate a 10.9m turning circle. Front suspension is by means of MacPherson struts, and the rear end is suspended by a multi-link independent system. Brake discs are ventilated at the front, measuring 320mm, and solid at the rear, measuring 284mm. The Optima Si features 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, fitted with Continental 215/55 tyres, while the Optima GT moves up an inch to Michelin 235/45 R18 tyres.

Both variants come with the following safety features as standard: anti-lock braking, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, stability control, traction control, Vehicle Stability Management, Hill-start Assist Control and Emergency Stop Signal. Front and rear parking sensors plus a reversing camera are also standard, as are lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, high-beam assist, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers and static cornering lights. Three ISOFIX mounting points and six airbags keep occupants safe from harm in the event of a crash.

In addition to these, the flagship Optima GT also provides as standard bi-xenon headlights, blind spot detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Comfort and convenience features common to both levels of trim include: alarm, split-folding rear seat, adaptive cruise control, multi-function steering wheel, shift paddles, trip computer, electric windows, MP3-compatible audio system with USB input, Bluetooth with music streaming, satellite navigation and dual-zone climate control.

Additionally, the Optima GT comes with keyless starting, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating/cooling, seat position memory, sunroof, boot release, flat-bottom leather-bound (heated) steering wheel, colour TFT information display in instrument panel, alloy sports pedals, wireless phone recharging, rear-door sunblinds and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The wireless phone recharging is only compatible with LG and Samsung smartphones currently.

Colours available for the Optima are: Clear White, Snow White Pearl (GT only), Silky Silver, Aurora Black (GT only), Platinum Graphite, Gravity Blue and Temptation Red. Other than Clear White, all colours are metallic, attracting an extra charge of $595.