Curtains raised on 2016 Kia Optima: To run on Android and Apple Carplay

Kuala Lumpur: After what seemed to be a huge pre-launch campaign, the fourth facelift 2016 Kia Optima has been unveiled in the New York International Auto Show 2015. Kia Optima will go on sale in third/fourth quarter this year, is made available in five trim levels ( LX, LX Turbo, EX, SX Turbo and SXL ) and is set to be a big contender in the D-segment sedan range.

Kia Optima is specifically targeted at an audience who need something a fresh redesigning in the monotonous luxury segment. Under the counsel of president Peter Schreyer, Optima brings forth a revolutionary design and overall dynamics which are not normally absent in this range.

“Tiger Nose” grille makes an appearance on the front accompanied by HID headlamps (with High Beam Assist and Bending Lights). In addition to this, LED daytime running lights are also included in the arsenal. Looking at the overall profile, 2016 Optima sports a muscle, elegant silhouette credits to its A-pillar. This is bundled with alloy wheels which range from 16-inches to 18-inches for your discretion currently. On the rear, a subtle lip spoiler sits pretty with LED (halo-like) tail lamps to complement them. (Optional) Adding to the ornamental value are double exhaust outlets, oval in shape, which run straight into the diffuser. As such, Kia Optima is available in three color options.

Underneath the hood of this sedan are 3 petrol engines for your pick, out of these engines the newest addition is also the smallest engine in terms of power and performance. This 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder 16-valve engine delivers a maximum power output of 178 hp alongside a maximum torque measuring 264 Nm. With a 7-speed gearbox this engine type will only be made available with Optima LX Turbo. The other two options include 2.0-litre turbocharged GDI engine and a 2.4-litre contemporary 4-cylinder engine which deliver power/torque output measuring 247 hp/ 352 Nm and 185 hp/ 241 Nm respectively. 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is made available in Optima SXL and Optima SX turbo while 2.4-litre giant sits fancy on Optima LX and EX. All these variants are available with a 6-speed auto transmission with a front wheel drive configuration.

For the betterment of overall drive experience, much attention seems to be given for decreasing NVH levels alongside incrementing the overall panache within. The seats available can be configured as fabric, standard leather or full-fledged Nappa leather and the finish can be selected from the two “Rich Merlot” or “dark aubergine” theme. On a tech filled contemporary dashboard, housed is an 8-inch touchscreen which features UVO connectivity system (patented by Kia), this features 4 eServices functions which are – Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score. The standout feature however remains the fact that Kia Optima 2016 is available with Apple Carplay and Android Auto platform, out of which the former's availability is promised in the near future.

 

 

With everything good, Kia also embeds an amazingly safe drive in its flagship saloon. An array of passive safety features are available like Blind Spot detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Advanced Smart Cruise Control System and Autonomous Emergency Braking.