The Kia Optima GT has been spotted in Naza Kia Malaysia’s PJ Red Cube showroom, just a few weeks after it was spotted on a trailer in Malaysia, and mere months after the company announced it would officially bring in the high-powered, D-segment sedan.
We’ll get straight to the point here, the Optima GT packs a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbocharged T-GDI petrol engine with 242 hp and 353 Nm of torque (following Kia’s international release). That’s more than what is offered by Japanese makes like the Toyota Camry 2.5L Hybrid (202 hp total system output), Mazda 6 2.5L (185 hp/250 Nm) and Honda Accord 2.4L (173 hp/225 Nm).
The mill is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to the front wheels, and also includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. According to Kia, the Optima GT will accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 7.4 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 240 km/h.
On the exterior, the Optima GT seen here comes with LED headlights with LED DRLs, LED rear taillights, a rear diffuser, twin oval-shaped exhaust tips and 18-inch fan-design alloy wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres (235/45).
As for interior equipment, there’s a seven-inch touchscreen display, a dual-zone climate control system with Clean Air ioniser, ventilated front seats (cooling and heating function), multifunction steering wheel, leather upholstery (red sport seats) and electrically-adjustable front seats (lumbar support and memory function for driver’s side).
Other bits of kit include rear air-con vents, rear charging and power outlets, a sunroof, sun shades for the rear side windows, a navigation function for the car’s infotainment system and a 4.3-inch TFT-LCD multi-info display in the instrument cluster.
In terms of safety, it appears we will miss out on features such as blind-spot detection and lane-departure warning, judging by the absence of those controls on the right side of the driver. Items such as six airbags, automatic brake hold, front and rear parking sensors, plus a reverse camera appear to be standard here.
For those who are interested, the Optima GT is now open for booking. However, pricing will only be announced when the car is officially launched tomorrow, so stay tuned.
UPDATE: The Kia Optima GT’s price has been revealed – RM179,888 (on-the-road with insurance).
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments about the Kia Optima GT highlight skepticism about its exterior design, interior quality, and perceived lack of power despite its impressive specifications. Some compare it unfavorably to BMW and Mercedes-Benz, criticizing the brand perception, service, and features like the absence of paddle shifters and safety systems such as blind spot detection. Others acknowledge the car's good price and features, but express doubts about real-world performance and engine power transfer. Several commenters suggest waiting for reviews and second-hand options due to high pricing, while a few appreciate the design and advanced tech like memory seats and sunroof. Overall, sentiments are mixed, with excitement tempered by doubts regarding value, safety, and brand perception.