The revolution of Kia Optima

The Kia Optima was introduced in 2001 and shared many similarities to the Hyundai Sonata. It had similar styling with a few of the same interior features. Mechanically, they were also very similar.

In 2003, the Optima was give dual headlights and minor designs enhancements. The following year, the grilled was redesigned.

Kia Optima 2002 

Kia Optima 2003

Kia Optima 2004

Kia Optima 2005

A Distinctive, Modern Look 

Personifying Kia's 'exciting and enabling' brand objectives, the all-new Optima's exterior styling employs short overhangs and sporty details – such as the V6 model's dual exhaust outlets – to project a strong presence. Circular design elements within the headlights and rear taillamps lend a modern look, while a new Appearance Package includes 17-inch wheels and Michelin tires, a blacked-out front grille and headlights, aluminum interior trim and Supervision meter cluster for a sportier and more aggressive tone. Furthering its athletic attitude, the Appearance Package for EX models adds black interior trim accents and black leather seats.

Built on a new platform wîth a longer wheelbase (107.1 in.) and increased overall width (71.1 in.) compared to its predecessor, the new Optima offers a spacious interior package:

• With an interior volume of 104.2 cubic feet, the Optima has one of the roomiest cabins in its §egmènt, wîth more interior space than the 2006 Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion and Mazda6. l/i

• The 2006.5 Optima's trunk capacity is significantly larger than before. At 14.8 cubic feet, the trunk volume represents a nearly 10-percent increase over the previous-generation vehicle. 

Inside, the new Optima's refinements include the use of improved materials and the continuation of the sporty exterior design wîth a white-blue illumination theme throughout.

Kia Optima 2006

Optima combines distinctive styling wîth a longer wheelbase, a wider track, increased horsepower, better fuel economy and dramatically improved driving dynamics for enhanced performance and passenger comfort. With six standard airbags, including full-length side-curtain airbags, the all-new Optima continues Kia's commitment to offering the highest level of standard safety features in all of its vehicles. 

The 2007 Optima offers consumers a generous list of desirable features and a distinctive exterior design, blending modern and sporty styling cues for distinctive character both inside and out. 

Kia Optima 2007

The 2009 Optima is presented wîth new front, side and rear styling cues, which build upon Kia's philosophy of creating dynamic vehicles that evoke passion. The fog lamps and lower front grille have been enlarged and the headlamps narrowed to create an aggressively sharper look. Wider side garnishes add sportiness while the acute front lines continue toward the back, ending on a distinctly edged trunk lid. To complete the redesigned rear fascia, taillights are narrowed to enhance Optima's sleeker cosmetic appearance.

Also, new for 2009 is the addition of the sporty SX trim, which complements the handsomely-equipped, value-priced LX and luxury-oriented EX trims. Already available wîth Kia's Rio, Rio5, Spectra and Spectra5 models, the SX line provides another dimension for Optima buyers lòòking for a sportier midsize. Along wîth a sport-tuned suspension, SX upgrades include: a black-bezeled front grille and headlamps, LED outside-mirror turning signals, fog lights and hyper-silver-finished 17-inch wheels. EX and LX V6 models are equipped wîth 16-inch alloy wheels, and are fitted wîth Goodyear tires. 

The 2009 Optima's overall length also increased, extending nearly two inches in the front and one inch in the rear, to an overall length of roughly 189 inches. The larger proportions enhance the exterior styling for a lower, leaner, more powerful stance. All other dimensions, including wheelbase, remain unchanged.

Kia Optima 2009

Sleek and Streamlined Exterior 

The 2011 Optima projects a high-performance yet elegant image wîth its unique silhouette and sleek stance that builds upon Kia Motors' philosophy of creating high quality and dynamic vehicles that evoke passion. The striking face of Optima features Kia's signature bold tabbed grille that is surrounded by projector headlamps. Longer, wider and lower than before, Optima's coupe-like profile is enhanced by a sweeping chrome arc that flows from the A through C pillars, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further and enhances its proportions. Optima's roofline connects wîth its high and pronounced shoulder line that leads to its sculpted flanks and extended wheelbase. Boldly flared wheel arches and a raked cabin create a sedan wîth a graceful muscular stance.

Available in three trims, LX, EX and SX, the 2011 Optima offers numerous standard features. The LX includes dual exhaust wîth chrome tips, solar glass, outside mirror turn signal indicators and 16-inch steel wheels fitted wîth 205/65R16 tires. Úpgrading to the EX offers standard fog lights, heated outside mirrors, exterior chrome/body-color door handles along wîth 17-inch alloy wheels wîth P215/55/R17 tires. Moving up to the athletic SX adds HID headlights wîth auto leveling, LED rear combination lights, unique front grille design, rear lip spoiler, sculpted side sills, aero wiper blades, red brake calipers and 18-inch black machined finish alloy wheels furnished wîth P225/45R18 tires, achieving a true performance look.

Kia Optima 2011

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo At 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Hyundai is offering a completely different take on the Veloster Turbo with a special graphics package. The decals feature a gray and yellow stripe running the length of the car, yellow trim on the front spoiler, side skirts and rear fascia, as well as a checkered flag theme on the side and roof spoiler. It’s definitely over the top, but still tastefully done. 

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The Kia Rio Then and Now – A Design Evolution &Design story

 A Design Evolution

Outline the design evolution of the Kia Rio and how it went from an ordinary subcompact to a top selling vehicle that has won multiple prestigious design awards.

1987 (Pride)

The Rio’s origin dates back to an earlier model which was known as the Kia Pride in 1987. This mini hatchback was a joint project between Kia, Ford and Mazda. It was sold in Korea as the Kia Pride, but was known as the Ford Festiva for the US market.

1994 (Avella)

The Pride became the Kia Avella in the domestic Korean market and was sold as the Ford Aspire in the US. All Avellas came standard with 13 inch wheels, a four-speaker stereo, heated rear glass, anti-lock brakes (ABS), driver’s side airbag, and door impact beams. It was also the first South Korean car in its class to offer dual airbags and ABS-brakes.

1999 (Rio)

The Avella was discontinued in 1999 and both it and the Pride (first generation Ford Festiva) were transformed  and re-badged to become the Kia Rio, but Rio still goes by ‘Pride’ in the domestic Korean market. The Rio was available in both hatchback and 4-door sedan body styles and featured a 96 horsepower, 1.5-litre DOHC  gasoline engine from 2001-2002.

2002

A few years later, the Rio received a slight redesign with new exterior and interior styling along with engine, suspension and brake upgrades.

2006

A fairy godmother once transformed Cinderella’s pumpkin into a stunning horse carriage, and in a similar fashion, bringing Peter Schreyer on board as Kia’s Chief Designer Officer was indeed magical. He dramatically introduced new design improvements and our engineers were inspired to match looks with performance by including a 110 horsepower 1.6-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine.

2010

In 2010, the Rio embraced Kia’s distinctive tiger nose grille and added some modern and high-tech features such as Bluetooth hands-free phone operation and a new gauge cluster.

2012

And after 25 years of enhanced design, performance, safety, features and fuel efficiency kia have arrived to the present day All-New Rio. It has both style and performance with multiple engine choices, trims, colors and options to meet the needs of drivers from all walks of life.

Design Story 2012

 It is a subtle language which is spoken through a car, which you perceive not only with your eyes, but also with your other senses. It is a combination of everything you feel, touch, see and hear.

The language of design should also contain a hint of the company’s philosophy and beliefs, but more importantly, it’s the passion that stands out from competitors. All of this was required when numerous engineers, project managers and designers from centers in Europe, North America and Korea put their heads together to create the all-new Kia Rio, a car that continues to fascinate its producers as it makes bold ventures into the automobile world.

Defining New Luxury

Can compact cars be luxurious? It was a simple question, but a daunting task for Kia designers who wanted to change the perception that compact cars meant only “small” and “practical.” New challenges required a new way of thinking. The developers involved with Rio were members who participated in the development of medium to large sized sedans or luxury models to ensure that they wouldn’t be entrapped by their concept of what a ‘compact car’ should be like.

The result was a new way of looking at what compact cars should offer, such as wide space to provide comfort to drivers and passengers. There are now features and functions that were unavailable to drivers before in sub-compact car segment, such as LED headlight lamps, a cooling internal compartment box, a seven-inch navigation system, a rear-view camera and much more. All of these aspects make the Rio a new luxurious, affordable vehicle that transcends its deceptively small size.

Simply a Beauty, Inside and Out

Before setting out to design the Rio, designers did their research. Months of market research and passenger preference tests were done in Europe and North America, targeted toward young drivers in their 20s and 30s. The results showed that this segment of drivers is attracted to economy, fuel efficiency, dynamic style and sporty design.

So it is no surprise that designers came up with two important words that were essential in attaining their goals: “modern” and “youthful.” Basic straight lines were used to emphasize a clean and modern look. Curves and volumes were used to give a youthful and dynamic look to the car. At the front, the intake grille and fog lamp graphics were expanded to establish a more confident and sporty image of the car while maintaining the design identity of Kia’s tiger nose grille. The eyes of the car, or the head lamps, are literally eye-catching. Both projection low beam and LED daytime running lamps are incorporated into the head lamps, capturing high-tech images and a forward-looking stance.

The Rio’s side profile is also the result of considerable deliberation among designers. Designers really wanted Rio to exude sportiness, so they added a dynamic window graphic with a cab-forward style and a black glass slant that continues from the front hood of the car.