When the Car and Driver testing
staff was giving the model a spin last year, the Kia rep that met up with them
had hinted that this name change could occur down the road. Here in the states,
the Optima has been available for four generations over two decades. The
official EPA fuel-economy ratings first spotted by Motor Trend
also definitely confirm the K5 will offer an all-wheel-drive option in the
States. The single model officially listed has a turbocharged 1.6-liter
inline-four, an 8-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive.
This same engine cranks out 180 horsepower, and
191 lb-ft of torque, as it also does situate in the Hyundai Sonata Sedan, which
does not yet offer AWD. We expect to hear some more solid details soon, and
during our web search this week found Motor Trend claiming that the new model
is definitely a “big leap forward in looks and tech”. We do at least know now
that a performance GT will follow later in the year, and we have been very
happy about just how much the Optima was a game-changer, helping put the brand
we love to represent so much on many new buyers' radar.
The K5 also introduces “heartbeat lighting” at
both ends of the car, squiggles of LED lights that resemble the readout on an
EKG heart rate monitoring device. The rear LEDs provide an even more accurate
replica of an actual heartbeat with spikes at each end, and a flat line in the
middle that is a series of dashes that eventually shrink when they join in the
center.
Designed with a very aggressive variant in mind,
the K5 will boast new architecture developed under Albert Biermann, head of R
and D and testing for the Hyundai Motor Group. As we have seen the overall
popularity of trucks and SUVs rise drastically over the last decade, it is
always exhilarating to witness the release of a new
sedan. The K5 promises a solid connection to the road, top-notch handling and engineering, and the
standard excellent warranty selection that we are known for being the best-in-show of
worldwide!
