The “original” Korean market facelift
Kia changed their mind pretty quick about how they wanted their Korean market facelifted Optima (called Lotze Innovation in Korea) to look like. Sometime in mid-2008 they updated the Korean market Optima’s front and rear end to a younger and more dynamic look featuring sharper headlamps, the new Schreyer grille, and new LED tail lamps. They also updated the interior with new red backlighting and a new three-gauge meter cluster.
Chrome grille abandoned for sportier mesh look
For this latest minor facelift the front grille has lost its horizontal chrome slats and this is replaced with a mesh grille from the export market model. A comparison is shown above. For more details on the facelift check out our story from when the facelifted Optima was first unveiled last year in the related posts below:
Related Posts:
Kia Lotze Innovation: facelifted Optima in Korea
2009 Kia Optima facelift unveiled at NYIAS 2008
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
wht happen to Optima here?
marketing is poor and it makes d owner to be so worried….
hyundai do better marketing – maybe due to Sime Darby back-up
naza seem doing away on Korean and focus more on french marque nowadays.
The 'older' one looks better actually.
copy of accord euro
huh, if there's no caption under the pics,
i would simply say the above one is the facelift version..
Look like Extended proton Waja to me !!
Ya i agree, the older model looks better….
boring
yes… NICE
The older one look better.
yeah.. look like waja, exept the front… so finally there are a company that copy proton design… hehehe
This korean car design is FAILED! Get out pls~