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2011 Kia Optima

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I think this might turn out to be yet another good looking sedan from Korea.
It will come out a few months after its cousin, the all new Sonata.

I’m not sure what Toyota and Honda have in store for their next generation mid sized sedans, but it seems that everyone is coming up with really good looking designs these days.
Except them…

Click on the title for more pictures of the next Kia Optima.

Conversation 24 comments

  2. Wow, that already looks fantastic.

    Vince, I don't know why you bash the Accord so much. In my opinion it is the nicest vehicle in the segment by far.

  3. I also think the Accord is a very good car. I test drove it a couple of years a go (You can do a search in the site).
    But it really wasn't my favorite. I thought the steering was too sporty, in a fake way, and the interior design wasn't attractive to me.
    And the exterior looked like it was designed by about 5 people who never talked to each other.
    But I'm not saying it's a bad car, far from it. I just like other cars better. Especially as far as design goes.

    And no, I am not Korean. It just happens that there has been quite a few news about Korean cars lately.
    I'm just reporting on what's going on. I don't care where the news come from or where the cars are made.
    I guess I could be called Chinese, German, French or British. Why not…

    If you don't like the site, please do not read it.
    Or get a girlfriend.

  4. That's telling them Vince. Don't worry Vince keep posting anything on here. Just remember all Korean cars get negative commets (if it was a Toyota nothing negative would be said). Anyway since this is a Kia Optima commet I'll be the first to actually be on target. I like the sedan. That striking C pillar is diffrent and stylish at the same time. I can't wait to see more of this looking sedan. It looks better than the VG too.

  7. Very interesting C pillar and greenhouse. Kia/Hyundai have come a long way with their engineering and styling. Honda/Toyota are still tops in engineering but their styling is going right down the toilet (toyota especially).

  8. Vince, tell them it is the first amendment. You are entitled to post whatever you want, as long as it respects others.

    And Hyundai/Kia are on a roll as of late. Hard work pays off on the long run. Interesting thing is that the big Korean corporations have become dominant force in their respective markets: LG, SAMSUNG, HYUNDAI SHIPBUILDING, HYUNDAI CONSTRUCTION, HYUNDAI MOTORS, HANKOOK TIRES, KUMHO TIRES..

    It's just the natural result of a country that has been working very hard for the last 40 years: lots of education, research and development, sound political direction, sound economic policies. It's not perfect but the country is advancing very fast to catch up with Japan and position itself as a developed country just in time and before the rise of China.

    Not, I am not Korean or Asian. just a person that tries to understand where history is going.

  9. It's interesting that the design elements from the VG and the Forte can be seen in the C-Pillar. I can still see the "Sonata-ness" in the C-Pillar as well. They did a decent job tweaking the sheet metal. However, to eliminate that blind spot, I'd opt for the Sonata….I feel differently when it come to the Elantra and Forte though. It's the same deal here, same shape, different sheetmetal and window designs.

  10. The Accord may be a very nice and reliable car but the sedan is one of the ugliest cars on the market. The overhangs are huge. Almost as huge as the overhangs on the current Saab 9-5.

    Honda has been misfiring big time with their styling. The Accord sedan, Pilot, Ridgeline, and CR-V are hideous. They may sell well, but that certainly isn't due to the styling.

  11. If you look at the straight losses for the last 12 consecutive months for Honda and Toyota, it seems obvious that their product line has become less appealing to people.

  13. Hyundai and Kia are on a roll, and building decent looking cars at cut-rate prices. I've been more and more turned-off by the Toyota cars, Toyota switchgear, Toyota engine sounds, Toyota advertising, all the stuff that makes Toyota Toyota. Even the name "Toyota" bugs me like "Plymouth" once did. All of those once-positive characteristics are now completely unappealing and dorky. They're still well built, but not with the surgical precision and attention to detail that you're finding in other cars. There are too many other domestic and foreign brands that look really good and are well built. Brands like Kia are positioned to take some of Toyota and Honda's market share.

  14. "Anonymous said…
    If you look at the straight losses for the last 12 consecutive months for Honda and Toyota, it seems obvious that their product line has become less appealing to people.

    August 28, 2009 4:59 AM"

    ….and if you look at Honda's sales you would slap yourself in the face for such a dumb comment.

  15. Toyota and honda sales are doing pretty good at the moment. Look at what everybody bought with the cash for clunkers scheme.
    The US brands were more or less bybassed.

  16. Their are other car companies that are well built too like Mazda, Hyunda, Kia and Mitsubishi. That's way I don't want an everyday Corolla, Civic, Camry or Accord. I like quailty, luxury and attention. Toyotas and Hondas can't give any since their seen every 30 seconds.

  17. That's why Toyota and Honda's designs aren't that good. Why should they come out with something eye cataching? They can come out with the ugliest desings and put either a Camry, Corolla, Civic or Accord badge on that back of the ugly designs so that they'll out sell cars that look way better. And those four cars aren't even the best cars in their class just over rated.

  18. What Kia/hyundai really have going for them is that people take the time to look and consider them. Not the pre-conceived notions you get about Dodge, Ford & Chevy –which a lot of folks won't even look at. I sat in a ($15k)Cobalt the other day and was amazed that it felt about the same (quality & plastics -wise) as an Acord or Camry costing $25k! I Bet Kia/Hyundai will have much more sucess taking business from the Japanese than Detroit ever could– no matter how good (Detroit's) product might be. Toyota and Honda have both gotten WAY over-priced when compared "apples-to-apples" with almost ANYTHING else. But people don't buy on logic & knowledge. Just on emotion & out of habit. And the Koreans seem closer to the Japanese than anything made in America (or Sweden or Germany, or Italy, etc.)

  19. "Anonymous said…
    Their are other car companies that are well built too like Mazda, Hyunda, Kia and Mitsubishi. That's way I don't want an everyday Corolla, Civic, Camry or Accord. I like quailty, luxury and attention. Toyotas and Hondas can't give any since their seen every 30 seconds.

    August 28, 2009 1:09 PM"

    You are an idiot.

    You are expecting quality, luxury and attention driving a Mitsubishi???? They don't make a SINGLE competitive product aside from the Evolution. Their products are certainly not well built either.

    You aren't going to get positive attention driving a Kia or Mazda, either.

    You just lost all credibility with your last post. Please don't even bother responding.

  20. I'm confused….Is this different from the "VG" sedan? The rear c pillar design on this shot doesn't appear to be the same as previous shots of the VG sedan. Are these two different cars?

  21. .

    HEY!: August 28, 2009 10:45 AM
    you said: "….and if you look at Honda's sales you would slap yourself in the face for such a dumb comment" HERE'S THE FACT: Honda sales are down for 2009, and EVEN WITH "clash for clunkers" they will STILL be down 3% from last year's low sales record. (And stock analysts predict a continuing downward trend on Honda through the end of the year). PS; FYI: Toyota's trucks are down a whopping 60% (worse than GM, Ford, or Chrysler) so don't feel too bad about Honda's losses.

  22. What you mean your not going to get attention driving a Kia or a Mazda these days? The Forte turns heads, the Mazda 3 turns heads, the Lancer turns heads. Have you ever drivin them and seen them. NO. Don't get mad because you drive a Corolla, Camry, Accord or Civic and can't turn heads like My Kia Forte does. People ask me what that is I tell them proudly it's the new Kia Forte. My car turns heads even when it's dirty. My car turns heads. and it's rare because it's new like now. I see spectras here and there and hardly any Fortes yet. Now What? The Forte Koup will turn more heads than an every 30 second Civic coupe will.

  23. What you mean Kia doesn't have Quality or Luxury these days. What about the 2010 Kia Sorento with the skyslights is it in the Highlander? What about the Borrego's quailty that won an award over the Landcrusier? What about those huh? Your the idiot. You still think the Kia sephia is the only Kias. What about the VG what about those Kias huh? What about the new Optima coming out. I bet they'll turn more heads than the boring Corollas? Don't get psst because you drive a Corolla, Camry, Accord and Civic that on the roads ever 10 seconds. And stuff. For your information Kia isn'like they used to be back in the Kia Sephia years. Now what. Adn the Cube never outsold the Soul as of YET.

  24. Kias are turning heads what are you talking about, Your the idiot. The Forte Koup, 2010 Kia Sorento, VG, 2011 Kia Optima, the 2012 Kia Rio and the CH will turn heads. So please. Hyundai is turning heads now too. So what are you talking about. I lost on my last post. I'm posting now. What are you going to do about it. If these were Toyotas you wouldn't have said nothing. Korean cars are good cars with quailty and every year their reputation is getting better and better. Now What?

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