The large car market sector got a new entrant today, with the launch of Kia's all-new V6 Optima sedan.

Taking all the lessons it learnt from making Kia Carnival the top selling people mover in Australia, Kia has used them to produce a new contender.

Optima is available only with a V6 powerplant, ensuring effortless performance, and its generous proportions offer a spacious and comfortable interior, while advanced suspension design provides excellent ride quality, handling and road holding.

"Kia made its name in Australia with the Carnival and this clearly demonstrated the company’s ability to produce large vehicles," said Ric Hull, managing director of Kia Automotive Australia. "These skills have now been transferred to the design and production of the Optima. It is clearly a mature design and its technology under the skin provides effortless performance and refined road manners."

Powered by a 2.5 litre 127 kW V6 engine with a choice of five speed manual or a Tiptronic-style four speed automatic gearbox, Optima is fully equipped with aircon, driver’s airbag, power steering, remote central locking, front and rear electric windows, electrically operated mirrors and a CD player with six speakers.

Replacing the Credos in the Kia range, with its V6 engine and larger body the Optima will suit a greater number of medium car buyers. However, with the above 3.5 litre cars dominating this market sector and the 2.5 - 3.0 litre cars taking just 25 per cent of sales in the large car sector, Kia expects the Rio and Carnival to remain its top selling models.

New range is now complete
Optima also completes the 12 month rejuvenation of the Kia range which has seen the launch of the new Kia Rio hatch and sedan, the Sportage in its long body form, replacement of the Shuma/Mentor only ten days ago with the new Spectra, the arrival of the versatile Carens and improvements to the Kia Carnival people mover.

Optima enters the Australian car market at $25,990 in five speed manual form and $28,490 with a Tiptronic-style four speed electronic automatic gearbox. The only factory option is metallic paint at $170.