Naza Kia Malaysia, the official distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia, has announced the arrival of the fourth-generation Kia Optima GT into our local market. Available in high-powered version GT trim, the all-new Kia Optima GT is the fourth Kia model to be introduced locally this year, and picks up from the third-generation Optima which was popular among Malaysians.
The Optima GT boast a more athletic appearance than the standard Optima model. It feature a new Dot Array Mesh Satin Chrome front signature grille, a sporty front bumper as well as a new rear bumper that incorporates dual exhausts and a diffuser.
The headlights of the Optima GT are all-new and now feature LED technology with Daytime Running Lights. The headlights are primed with the new Dynamic Bending Light technology that turns the lights according to the angle of the steering wheel, illuminating dark corners and thus enhancing overall safety of the car.
In terms of its overall dimension, the Optima GT is 10mm longer, 30mm wider, 10mm higher and has a 10mm longer wheelbase than the previous generation model. The increase in height also gives the interior more passenger space with a 10mm more headroom, 25mm more legroom and 17mm more shoulder room at the rear and 20mm more shoulder space up front.
Inside the Optima GT’s cabin is a pleasant balance of comfort and sportiness. The real aluminum trim around the centre console and the pedals gives the car a sporty ambiance. The centre fascia too has been angled towards the driver by 8.5 degrees, and the flat-bottom D-Shaped steering wheel also complements the sports character of the car.
Interior trim is made of leather and high quality polymer. The door panels are lined with soft leather, as are the seats, which are said to be amongst the most comfortable in its class and have been further improved for the Optima GT.
The driver seat come with memory function (Intelligent Memory Seat – IMS) and adjustable in 12 different ways while the front passenger is a 10 ways adjustable seat. The seats are also ventilated and blow cool air to the back of the driver and passenger.
Making its debut in the Optima GT is the new smart phone wireless charger, which uses an electromagnetic field to charge a phone. The charger also has an overheat protection that detects the temperature of the thermistor in the wireless charger module and turns it off automatically should the temperature get too high.
Other interior features found in the Optima GT include a 7-inch TFT LCD screen for the entertainment system that also features MP3, MP4, Bluetooth, iPod connectivity and a MirrorLink feature that mirrors the screen of the phone on to the centre-mounted display screen.
Under the hood, power is supplied by a new Theta II 2.0 T-GDI turbocharged petrol engine that churns out 242hp and 350Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. As a result, 0-100km/h acceleration is achieved in just 7.4 seconds while fuel consumption is rated at 8.5L/100km (combined).
Also contributing to the overall performance and efficiency of the car are 3 driving modes – Sport, Normal and Eco. Sport adjusts the sensitivity of the throttle for maximum performance and also the steering wheel feels heavier for precise control of the car at high speed. Normal takes the throttle and steering wheel back to its usual factory settings while Eco reduces throttle sensitivity, lightens the steering wheel and also slows down the air-conditioning system to reduce fuel consumption.
In terms of safety, the Optima GT is fitted with 6 airbags – two for the front passengers, two side airbags as well as curtain airbags. There is also an arsenal of electronic safety nets such as the anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSM), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) and an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) which flashes the hazard automatically when emergency brakes are applied.
The Optima GT will be offered in three colour choices namely Gravity Blue, Aurora Black and Snow White Pearl. It will be available in showrooms nationwide at a price tag of RM179,888 on-the-road with insurance.
