2020 Kia Optima aka K5 sedan gets two turbo engines and 4WD

MANILA: Kia just unveiled a redesigned Kia Optima that will be renamed the K5 and will be available by mid-2020.

The new generation mid-size Kia sedan is bolder, packed with so much tech, and comes in several powertrain options.

The sleeker design features a wider front grille that integrates the headlights which are accented by LED daytime running lights, front apron with a splitter, and creases on the hood for a modern look. The modern minimalist design continues at the back with shark fin antenna, subtle rear wing, a narrow reflector strip that connects the taillights, and rear apron with rectangular exhausts.

Though Kia did not preview the inside, the interior is said to have a minimalist layout but with more driver-oriented features like a wide dashboard and horizontal symmetry that will make the cabin feel more spacious.

The new Optima/ K5 will also come standard with a center-mounted infotainment system with an optional upgrade to a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a BOSE surround sound system.

Other car features include an ambient lighting system to set the mood of your drive; wireless phone charging for convenience and less wire clutter; an 8.0-inch head-up display, which projects driving information on to a small glass panel in the driver's line of sight; and a voice command system that allows the driver to control a gamut of features like control AC, volume of audio, and navigation instructions.

Under the hood, the entry-level Kia Optima will be powered by a new turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four T-GDi (turbocharged petrol direct injection) engine, similar to that of the Hyundai Sonata which can deliver 178 Hp of power and 264 Nm of peak torque and mated to Kia's new continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) technology.

The mid variant engine choices are the 2.0-liter MPI four-cylinder engine with the capacity of 152 Hp of power and 192 Nm of torque and a 2.5-liter GDi engine capable of delivering 194 Hp of power and 246 NM of torque. Both engine options can be mated to a six-speed or eight-speed automatic transmission.

The top of the line GT variant gets a high-performance 2.5-liter T-GDi turbocharged inline-four engine that can churn 286 Hp of maximum power and 422 Nm of peak torque. It can go from zero to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds.

The turbocharged engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All K5 comes standard with a front-wheel-drive though there is an all-wheel-drive option available. There is also a possibility that the K5 Optima will be offered in hybrid powertrains but up to now, these are just speculations and Kia is not offering up any details regarding hybrids just yet.

Expect the new K5 to be available in the market come the middle of 2020 and will debut as a 2021 model.

Also Read: Kia filed a patent for a new design logo