Kia has now added these official images to the previously released quartet of renderings, but the company is still playing coy with information on its upcoming, completely redesigned 2011 Optima sedan. The car will make its official debut at the New York auto show this April. Kia claims that the new car’s “significantly longer” wheelbase will be accompanied by more space for people and cargo, which now looks more evident in these images than the early renderings, which had sliver-like windows.
Shown here, the production version has less severe proportions and windows people can actually see out of. But the toned-down styling still renders a much more dramatic shape than the model it replaces, yet is not as commanding as its platform-mate, Hyundai’s suddenly smokin’ Sonata. Regardless, in the hyper-competitive mid-size sedan market, Kia has nothing to lose and everything to gain by turning its milquetoast Optima into something other than what it is today.
The optimized Kia will be in U.S. showrooms this fall, but we’ll bring you more detailed information once Kia releases it at the New York show.
Thanks to: Car and Driver
