Kia Optima K5 replaced the forgettable previous Optima, with more evocative styling and very imposing stance. The sporty stance was attained via a very pronounced shoulder line, shallow glass house, thick C-pillar and large alloy wheels. The headlamps were stretched deep towards the wheel arches, likewise the sharply styled rear light lend a dynamic proportion, elastic-like appearance that ready to pounce anytime.
The Optima K5 landed in Malaysia on 27th of December 2011, right at the year end, to kick-start Naza-Kia Malaysia 2012 campaign right before it even begin. A teaser was published even before the date, establishing sufficient excitement to the public who have been long left without too many choice when it comes to mid-sized executive sedan. As the event unfold, so are the pricing, which was set at an ambitious RM143,888. It is now clear that Kia is intended to break the Japanese establishment not based on pricing alone, but on sheer emotive design, with equipment list that extends to the infinity.
For a start, the front end is dominated by large headlamp, which features auto-leveling HID Xenon, with Static Bending Light, essentially a headlamp that turned synchronized with the steering. The headlamps flanked the latest evolution of Kia corporate grille, which has a high-gloss black surround. Kia badge is prominently mounted up-high.
The plunging bumper line lends an aggressive fascia expression. This is further accentuated by the LED DRL just above the fog lamp on the outer, lower edge of the front bumper.
Wheel arches are heavily flared, with a pronounced belt-line thanks to a broad spacing between the hood central bump and the fender upper edge. The crisp character line running along the waist is a reminiscent of the much-loved BMW E60, especially with the side-gills. From this angle too one can see the sculpted wheel arch, a very un-subtle skirting on the sill, and also the arch-filling tyres with 18" alloy wheel. The "technical" look of the wheel does lend some "avant-garde" touch to the overall vehicle aesthetic. Seems that Kia does no wrong these days, especially on its product styling. The hiring of ex-Audi/VW designer is paying off, quickly and surely.
Many, many times, the exterior stylists of the car are more often that not to be infected by either one of these disease. The first one, the front stylist that did not communicate with the rear counterpart, resulting in multi-theme car that disjointed somewhere in between. The second virus on the other hand eats man courage and creativity, resulting in sparkling front end design, only to be gradually mellowed down towards the rear. Kia stylist team, well, are very healthy indeed, with no obvious symptom to any of the disease above. The rear styling is very Germanic in its lighting, solidly stretched to occupy the rear corner in as 3D as it can get. The rear light wrapped the side outer panel and the trunk lid in a very deep fashion. The upward rising bumper mating line, rise all the way into the rear light graphic, and continue to form a trunk character line on the upper lid. The high bumper then was cut back in the middle to cater low loading sill. The side profile of Optima K5 is also garnish with a unique chrome strip that run above the window line. The unusual feature start at the base of the front side window and continue to run along the roof line right to the rear windscreen base. What a stylish car!
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| One of the most prominent styling region of the K5, the mating point of door to C-pillar shutline, with chrome accent included. The uprising belt-line and plunging roof line result in slim glass-house. |
As far as the exterior story is concern, the Kia Optima K5 does make some of its rival (particularly Japanese) appears like a flabby elephant. The tout surfacing is more menacing compared to softie bulge, the hard edge lighting is stronger-looking than heavily contoured out-of-the-body light design and finally the 18" alloy wheel make more sense than the puny 16" alloy wheel that adorn some other 4.9m car. Continue reading for the interior design story.
