Kia will be wide in the European middle class. A first test drive in the new Optima – the Passat opponents from Korea.

He looks good and keeps with its high demands not behind the mountain. The new Kia Optima mixes in Asia as “K-5″ already powerful the middle class on. Now are off the United States and Europe and the top dog VW be taken Passat targeted from next summer. “We started here in the United States with the very good Optima and could overtake most recently even the Hyundai Sonata”, KIAS Chief product Planner is happy Benny Oeyen about his next success story. The Koreans mauserten’s powerful and shoot currently on all cylinders. In Europe, Asia and the United States the belächelten once upstarts long ago in the compact class, and the SUV have been wide. In August of next year, a serious competitor for VW Polo, Opel Corsa, and Peugeot 207 starts with the successor of the KIA Rio. “We are a brand on the move, which has ignited the Korea Turbo”, underlines Benny Oeyen, “five years ago we have offered just an automobile primary care to cut our customers.” “But we have developed strong.”

At the same time with the successor of Rio comes in Germany with the Kia Optima, the successor of tired Optima on the market. Attractions occurs, European design genes, and these engines will on mixing the contested import middle-class. The thoroughly revised class bestseller VW should fear to little of the Optima Passat. But the middle-class models in the second and third series which looks completely different. Because contributors such as a Suzuki Kizashi, Peugeot 508, Citroën C5 or Mazda 6 will before the new Korean plenty respect have.

In addition to his pleasant design, he can score 4.85-metre Optima in the first place in the Interior. Design and processing of materials of this kind were to see little import models. The seats are fully air-conditioned on demand to adjust electrically and the cockpit is gently leans towards the driver. Are the feel and processing. Disk navigation, Bluetooth module, electric sunroof, and even a heated rear seats set standards in terms of convenient features. This Habitat for legs and shoulders in the OPTIMA’s interior is more than neat; for the hairstyle of the dryer is however largely grown people. One reason is the relatively high seating position. On the other hand, the Coupé-like line of Chief Designer Peter Schreyer has one significant drawback: the low roof.

The Optima version tested with 2.4 liter is initially reserved for the US market. The engine is quiet and calm. With the 147 KW / 200 HP of the Koreans is good but not athletic motorized. It ensures also the optional six-speed automatic that takes its dynamism to the front, however, makes it to the relaxed travel limousine. Sporting excellence can be of 200 km/h fast sedan but not expect. The US top model is powered by a two liter big turbo engine with 260 HP. First, a two-liter gasoline engine with direct injection and approximately 170 HP, as well as a choice diesel 1.7 L engine are available for the European market. The diesel is likely do hard in the face of an expected power of just 115 HP in spite of standard consumption of five liters of diesel in the tough competitive environment. The competition offers variant to 200 hp. “We try to get the 2.0 T GDI as a top model for Germany”, underlines Benny Oeyen, “he would go the Optima as image well with sportive design.”

Beginning of 2012, the KIA to arrive Germany Optima with a hybrid drive. Its world premiere recently celebrated the hybrid model at the Los Angeles Auto show. Already in the next few months, he comes to US dealers. The full hybrid with two parallel drive trains and a 41 kW strong electric engine accelerates in 9.2 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and consumed 6.2 litres. Through a special clutch can the hatchback of the Powertrain to be decoupled. Emission-free all-electric operation, the Magentis successor reached a speed of up to 100 km/h electric motor, lithium-polymer battery and gasoline engine make a system performance of 209 HP and 265 nm of maximum torque the Optima hybrid available.

For the European competition is the all too comfortable US chassis to sharpened firmer. Also braking and steering are to have a euro fine. Alone in terms of assistance systems, the brother of Hyundai error Sonata on both sides of the Atlantic. Because while the competition has numerous security modules such as overhaul, alertness or restraint lane in the program, nothing of the Optima currently like. Whether for Kia Optima is a success, its price is likely decide not least. In the United States starts strong basic version at 19,000 dollars (around 14,000 euros) for the 200 hp. Even the fully-equipped top model Kia Optima 2.0 SX T-GDI costs just 26,000 dollars. The Kia Optima at well under 25,000 euros should start in Germany.