New York 2008: Kia debuts 2009 Optima
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/" rel="tag">New York Auto Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedans/Saloons</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/kia/" rel="tag">Kia</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-kia-optima/710714/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/02_09kiaoptima_450-op.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><em>Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Kia Optima.</em><br /><br />The most exciting thing at Kia's press conference today was undoubtedly the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-kia-koup-concept/">KOUP Concept</a>, but sharing the stage and as an automotive wall flower was the redesigned 2009 Kia Optima. The last-gen Optima, not all that old itself, was derided by some for being blandly designed. Kia claims to have corrected this for '09, but dipped into the derivative styling bin to do it. Though all the sheetmetal is new, the '09 Optima still looks as interesting as white bread. New for next year, however, is a "sport" model designated the SX (no innuendos please). Slotted above the entry-level LX and top-end EX trims, the SX model gets a sportier suspension, black-bezeled grille and headlamps, LED turn indicators in the sideview mirrors, fog lights, and "hyper-silver-finished" 17-inch wheels. Powering the new Optima will be a new 2.4L four-cylinder producing 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet or torque, which is up 13 hp compared to the prior four-cylinder, and an updated version of the current Optima's smallish 2.7L V6 that's now up to 190 hp and 184 pound-feet. That's still underpowered in our book compared to other mid-sizers that have been offering 3.5L+ V6 engines producing 250 horsepower for some time. The Optima also gets a tweaked interior with more ways to plug into your consumer electronics (USB, MP3 player plug, etc.) and a revised color palette. All in all, the 2009 Kia Optima just isn't daring enough, whether you're talking about its new lines or the engines underhood.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-kia-optima/">2009 Kia Optima</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-kia-optima/710709/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/01_09kiaoptima_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-kia-optima/710714/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/02_09kiaoptima_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-kia-optima/710710/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/03_09kiaoptima_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-kia-optima/710716/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/04_09kiaoptima_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-kia-optima/710711/"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/05_09kiaoptima_thumbnail. jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: Kia]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-kia-debuts-2009-optima/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New York 2008: Kia debuts 2009 Optima</em></a></p><p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-kia-debuts-2009-optima/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1144982/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-kia-debuts-2009-optima/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p><hr />

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