Kia Optima
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The Kia Optima (known as Magentis outside of the United States and China) is a mid-size car built by Kia for the United States and Australian markets since 2001, and in Europe since 2002. In Chile the first generation was known as Optima, and the latest as Magentis.
The Optima is produced for the Chinese market by the Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company, a joint venture with Kia.
The Optima is considered a landmark car for Kia to reach into a new market of executive luxury cars, although so far sales have been slow.
Kia could not use the Optima name in Canada, because General Motors Canada had used it on the 1989-1991 Passport Optima.
2001
The 2001 through 2005 model year Optimas are mechanically identical to their sister car, the Hyundai Sonata, and is more of a luxury version of the Sonata. The Kia Optima differs from the Sonata in terms of exterior styling, and some interior options. For example, later model year Optimas used the same rear leather seats as the Hyundai XG350 whereas the Hyundai Sonata received different (and arguably inferior) rear leather seats. Because of their mechanical similarity, the Kia Optima has been similarly reliable as Hyundai Sonatas of the model same year.
2007
The 2007 Optima was introduced on January 9, 2006 at the North American International Auto Show. Substantially similar to the 2006 Kia Magentis, the optima now differs more substantially from the Sonata. One major difference is the use of less-expensive MacPherson struts in front, as opposed to the Sonata's multilink suspension. Like the Sonata, the Optima is also longer and taller than the previous model and has a longer wheelbase. Kia offered the 2007 redesign as a 2006.5 model. Because of Hyundai's Montgomery, Alabama not building the Optima/Magentis for North America, the car continues to be built in Korea. However, with Kia's new West Point, Georgia plant opening for 2008, all American Optimas and Canadian Magentises are expected to be assembled there.
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