2012 All-New Kia Optima K5 Launched In Malaysia For RM144K

The 2012 all-new Kia Optima K5 2.0 has been launched in Malaysia for RM 143,888 (OTR with insurance), undercutting the RM 149,800 Honda Accord 2.0 VTi-L and the RM 154,990 Toyota Camry 2.0 G. The unveiling took place at the modern-concept Kia Red Cube, Naza Kia Malaysia's flagship 3S (sales, service and spare parts) facility in Petaling Jaya. The Optima was introduced in its home market back in April 2010, but a shortage of worldwide supply delayed the car's local launch till now.

Overtly one of the most beautiful cars in the D-segment, the head-turning Kia Optima is designed by Peter Schreyer, the man behind the Forte, the Sportage and the Sorento, all of which are light years ahead of their predecessors in terms of styling and appeal. Schreyer has penned a car that appears sleek and sporty, even mildly aggressive at times, and that is probably why the Optima was named the ‘Best of the Best’ at the 2011 Red Dot Design Award. The attractive styling extends inside to a driver-focused cabin that would not seem out of place in an Audi.

The Kia Optima shares the same powertrain as the Hyundai Sonata: a 2.0-litre Theta II four-cylinder engine delivering 165 PS at 6200 rpm and 198 Nm at 4600 rpm; a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters, developed in-house by Kia and Hyundai, channels the generated output to the front wheels. The 0-100 km/h sprint takes a reasonable 10.9 seconds, and the fuel economy is rated at 13.2 km/litre, which improves by 9.1 percent when the Active Eco mode is activated.

The relationship between the Optima and the Sonata goes beyond the powertrain to a common chassis, which comprises MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the back. Kia says that the dampers have been tuned for high performance, resulting in responsive and predictable handling without compromising on the ride comfort. All-round disc brakes, ventilated at the front, provide the stopping power. An electric power steering system makes the cut, presumably for its benefit to fuel economy.

As you might expect of a fully-imported flagship Kia sedan, the equipment list is lengthy and comprehensive, boasting exterior items such as 18" alloy wheels, auto-leveling HID xenon headlamps, automatic headlamps/wipers, LED daytime running lights, gullwing-style folding side mirrors, a rear lip spoiler and a three-piece panoramic glass sunroof. The exterior colour choices—Snow White Pearl, Bright Silver and Platinum Graphite—seem stingy by comparison.

Standard for the interior are full leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic cruise control, push-button start/stop, an eight-way powered driver's seat with two memory settings, and a rear-view camera whose display is within the rear-view mirror. The steering wheel itself comes with a multitude of controls for the audio system, Eco mode, cruise control and Bluetooth function. The Infinity premium audio system is linked to a 12-channel amplifier, eight speakers, a six-disc CD-changer, along with AUX, iPod and USB connectivity.

The Kia Optima promises to be one of the safest cars in the D-segment, judging from its five-star NHTSA rating—the first time a Korea-built car has been awarded the highest possible rating by the US agency. Malaysians enjoy the same level of safety as our Optima is fully equipped with six airbags, active front headrests, and the complete suit of braking, traction and stability controls. Hill Start Assist Control, rear child-seat fixtures and speed-sensing automatic door locks are standard equipment too. Enjoy the 2012 Kia Optima K5 launch event gallery below!