Kia may switch to alphanumeric names in certain markets?

In Cars, International News, Kia, Koreans / by /

Kia may switch to alphanumeric names in certain markets?

Right now, Kia products have different names in different markets. The new Kia Optima will likely be called the Optima here in Malaysia but in South Korea it is called the Kia K5, where it is joined by a larger vehicle, the Kia K7 (also known as the Cadenza).

According to an Automotive News interview with Hyundai Motor Co. Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun, Kia is considering extending this alphanumeric naming scheme to the US. According to Chung, alphanumerics can increase the strength of an auto brand, however Kia also understands that American buyers may prefer a car with a name.

Following this naming scheme, the Forte would likely be renamed the K3 in a country that used an alphanumeric scheme. Hyundai has also switched to alphanumerics in some markets – the Tucson is also called the ix35 for example, and the Sonata is referred to as the i45 in markets like Australia.

Would you prefer to buy a car called an Optima or a K5?

Source

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Paul Tan

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.

 

Comments

  • AI-generated Summary ✨

    Many comments support Kia's idea to adopt alphanumeric names, viewing it as a way to cultivate a performance division and add exclusivity, similar to Mercedes models. Some suggest names like K5 or K9 sound more prestigious, while others worry about cultural misunderstandings or confusion with model categories. There's concern that purely numeric or alphanumeric systems may diminish brand recognition and uniqueness, with a preference for meaningful, traditional names for better brand identity and clarity. Overall, sentiments are mixed but lean toward traditional naming over purely alphanumeric systems.

  • Seriously on Jun 30, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Isn’t that a straight rip off BMW?

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  • mibs on Jun 30, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    Hmmm how about Optima K5, so then we know that is the current Optima, then soon Optima K5i for example :)

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  • Vnoz on Jun 30, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    Kia optimus ? lol.. would prefer optima, it has been well known name and having K5 would be likes of following the Germans. Dont be a copy cat, be original.

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  • prado700 on Jun 30, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    Car with names got prestige and uniquely identified. For Malaysian markets, If the car manufacturers use name that are not suitable, some buyer might not want to buy the car. For example, some people don’t like to buy Hilux (due to vulgar name) or Sorento (due to stupidity name in Cantonese).
    I still prefer names and still waiting for the new 2011 sorento. Paul, any idea when Naza will lauch in malaysia. thanks
    ps: i don’t mind as long as the car is high quality and reliable.

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  • Artz3 on Jun 30, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    K5 it is.

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  • WTF on Jun 30, 2010 at 3:53 pm

    wait until it reaches K9…..
    And all the Canine(K9) Unit of the uniform forces will join in and buy them in loads…

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    • drMpower on Jun 30, 2010 at 5:22 pm

      keh keh keh

      i was about to jot something about k9

      its a dog.

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      • Leseid Obrut on Jun 30, 2010 at 8:22 pm

        is it?

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      • Black Dog on Jun 30, 2010 at 11:06 pm

        You guys talking about me? Yeah, I’m still waiting for it. The Sorento was in Sunday Star, by Naza, so it will be very soon.

        Americans are still buying loads of Beemers, Mercs & Audis even if there’s just numbers! So it doesn’t really matters as long as it serves it’s intended purpose. all those Ah Beng, Ah Kow or Ah Meow still can be successful!

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  • DCSK on Jun 30, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    alphanumeric is the name to use now by most manufacturers, like Mazda 5…BMW X1, X3, X5, X6 etc

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  • Confused on Jun 30, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    Using numbering will sooner or later causes confusion – not only among the buyers, even the manufacturers themselves. Peugeot 308 is C segment hatchback and 407 is a D segment sedan. Yet in China, the 308 sedan is using 407 body style. That’s is sure to confuse a lot of people. Adding further to the confusion, now we have 3008 with totally different body-style.

    The same thing happen in computer industry. Intel numbering systems has gone haywire. 20826 upgrades 20836 then to Pentium instead of 20846. Pentium 2, Pentium 3, Pentium 4 and now instead of Pentium V, it upgrades to “I do not know what!” And I haven’t talk about Microsoft Windows numbering…

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  • vbkcheng on Jun 30, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    Paul, try to hint that K5 is coming right?

    Inn bolehland, it will be call Naza Optima K5

    So, we shall hold our fire to wait for this K5 from Naza instead the overpriced Sonata by SDM..

    ESP = RM 118,888…

    hehehehhe

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    • dzat on Jul 01, 2010 at 11:12 am

      New Optima, at that price…will sells like “goreng pisang”…but Naza sure been pricing their cars quite competitive lately

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  • HMO on Jun 30, 2010 at 5:27 pm

    Then they will need to do a lot of survey around for proper naming especially Asian region where ‘Alphanumeric’ can mean something in different dialect or languages… For example K4 – Kia Keh Si?

    Today you have Citroen (no offense) – if you read it in this way (cantonese – Sit-Tou-Loong / means ‘price drop until become charcoal)… Naming your product right surely have a certain level ‘influence’ behind it.

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  • die hard on Jun 30, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    K5 much cooler

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  • arcana on Jun 30, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    K5 sounds cool…..optima has been around in malaysia but not famous due to its dull designs previously.

    im waiting for this car as well, after surveying the sonata, i think this looks much better

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  • aimanrosli on Jun 30, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    I think its better using proper naming compared to alphanumeric system. Confusion will indeed gonna be an issue.

    I am a medical student & most of enzymes/ chemical substances are better memorized if they have proper name instead of code. Especially if they have awkward name.

    How about Kia Rondo? I think its quite weird.

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  • apamau on Jun 30, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    For such a lansi looking car, calling it optima does not seems well, K5 is cool, match the status.

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  • wolfsburg on Jun 30, 2010 at 7:36 pm

    K3=Forte, K5 Optima, K7=Optima
    KX3=Sportage, KX5=Sorento, KX7=Borrego??
    haha… to me name is not that important, price is the key.

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  • karl on Jun 30, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    Alphanumeric implying luxury or prestige; moniker sometimes created uneasiness of meaning BUT some important market 4 is BAD. Pity 4 hehehehe

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  • rageaccel2 on Jun 30, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    same as suzuki GSX-R 1000 K5.. hehehe…

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  • BMALOI on Jun 30, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    It doesn’t matter, as long as the package loaded with goodies and with reasonable price. also good after sales service.

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  • Tao on Jun 30, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    For me, the name of a model is very important. In different region, different name to be use will confuse all of us. The name of the model should be globalize so that everyone will know what name of the model of the car manufacture brand.

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  • Wing on Jun 30, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    K5 !!!

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  • Shannon on Jul 01, 2010 at 12:02 am

    K5 =)

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  • TEC on Jul 01, 2010 at 12:21 am

    First thing you have to ask youself is: Let’s say your baby is new born. Would you prefer to call him Kelvin Tan (or K5 Tan) or Katrina Tan (or K7 Tan)?

    The only brand that makes alphanumeric name successful is Mercedes. We do know the popular S320 that sent Princess Diana to death. We do know A170 or B170 might be the most suitable model in Mercedes for her to drive around London if she is still alive. We do also know that her ex-husband might drive E Class Sedan to bring her most hated Camelxx to tour around London City.

    For rest of the brands please don’t do so because this makes the model of that particular brand less unique and highly unidentifiable after a long time. We will know Optima 10 or 20 years down the road, but we might know know what is K5. It sounds like a drug undergoes testing for a particular disease. It also sounds like a prohibited drug only made available for certain people. Worst still, it could also be the name of a fatal uncurable pendemic in future?

    The name of Optima reflects the actual and genuine identity of the vehicle. It might be the combination between ‘Optimum’ and ‘Advancedment’, i.e. Optimum in peformance and comfortability, yet very Advance in technology.

    So, as conclusion, I woould prefer to buy a car with Optima.

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  • xord on Jul 01, 2010 at 2:08 am

    its good if the car got different series or class, like 5-series and S-class

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  • Lancastrian on Jul 01, 2010 at 8:30 am

    Audi A4 – try read A4 in Hokkien.

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  • 4G63tDSM on Jul 01, 2010 at 9:00 am

    All depends if the manufacturer wants to put priority to name recognition for the Brand or the Product.

    Honda screwed up big renaming the Legend to the RL (I actually had to stop and think what they renamed it to). Abandoning an established nameplate means also the risk of relagating your products into obscurity. You wont see Honda or Toyota every changing the Accord, Civic and Corolla to numbers.

    Manufacturers only typically change a name when the old name somehow led to negative impressions due to quality issues.

    Long established marques can afford alpha numeric model names because they have already established a nameplate. A BMW owner wil likely call his car a BMW instead of 330is or 540i etc, likewise a Mercedes owner. A Honda owner may refer to his “Accord”.

    I find this all a little funny though. When KIA first launched in USA, they had a little problem and had to use “Kia” instead of the capitalized KIA (too close to the acronym K.I.A. I suspose)

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  • BMALOI on Jul 01, 2010 at 9:25 am

    just recall that K5 sounds like Brabus code name series… K4, K8 …

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  • squawk on Jul 01, 2010 at 10:01 am

    Alphanumerics is safe but confusing, especially if a competitor is using a similar system. I prefer names but they can be tricky across different cultures and languages. An example is the drink ‘Fresca’. It means fresh, cool but is also Spanish slang for ‘lesbian’. :-)

    I kinda dislike Merc & BMWs current naming system as they’re not representative of the engine capacity anymore. Defeats the purpose.

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  • Kevin Lau on Jul 01, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    alphanumeric like:

    K9 sounds like a canine breed
    C4 soulds like engine stalled or spoilt in chinese

    I still prefer a name though.

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  • halim on Jul 01, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    In South Korea, the sedan based on what is called the Optima in the United States is named the K5.

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  • mokkf on Jul 02, 2010 at 8:32 am

    Give it name for normal passenger car.
    But i do prefer alphanumeric for those modify/ special edition one.

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  • Fred "theflo" Oliver on Jul 04, 2010 at 8:45 am

    I like the Alpha followed by the Numeric. I think Kia is on to something with that and I feel a WORLD car approach is best for them.

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  • Greg on Jul 08, 2010 at 5:03 am

    The monicker K5 accords the Optima with a touch of exclusivity. It’s also good to give it that monicker to distinguish it from the previous generation’s bread and butter Optima. If you look at Hondas for example, even though the general public refer to them by their common names, enthusiasts will lovingly refer to them by their alphanumeric monickers, like CP1, CP2 and CP3 for the latest Accords (2.0, 2.4 and 3.5 respectively), FD1, FD2 and FD2R for the Civic (1.8, 2.0 and Type R respectively). Even Toyotas have alphanumeric names (I can only remember AE-101, AE-111 etc). IMO the new Optima is targeted at the young and young at heart, so Naza should also adopt the alphanumeric naming convention. If the new car was aimed squarely at “uncles” and “aunties”, then just call it Optima for all I care :) Nonetheless, at the end of the day it won’t really matter, cos enthusiasts like me will refer to it as the K5, while uncles and aunties will call it an Optima. Whatever floats your boat I say.

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  • Greg on Jul 08, 2010 at 5:06 am

    Oh ya, forgot to add. Even the new Sonata (that’s supposedly aimed at the more conservative crowd) is quite commonly referred to in forums and car circles as the YF, while the outgoing model is called the NF. If even the Sonata can be associated with a monicker, I don’t see why the same can’t be done for the K5.

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  • Fred "theflo" Oliver on Sep 04, 2010 at 1:04 am

    Stay with the Names. Now I do see a way for Kia to create a PERFORMANCE division using the alpha numeric.

    Rio GTF2 basically Grand Touring Formual the 2 would be for Car Category (Fiesta)

    Forte GTF3 basically Grand Touring Formula the 3 would be for Car Category (Civic)

    Optima GTF4 basically Grand Touring Formula the 4 would be for Car Category (FUSION)

    Amanti GTF5 basically Grand Touring Formula the 5 would be for Car Category (Taurus)

    I think that would work a lot better cause if the car does not have the GTF you know right off the back it is a NON PERFORMANCE vehicle.

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