Optima

Make
Kia
Segment
Sedan

Kia first showed off the next-generation Optima towards the of 2019 with the reveal of the Korean market K5. As it turns out, based on spy shots, the US-spec model is expected to drop the Optima name in favor of the K5 name used elsewhere in the world. It has been several months since the new K5 was shown in Korea and we have been eagerly awaiting a US-specific announcement from Kia. Now, the wait is finally over.

The 2021 Kia Optima (or K5) will make its official debut on June 30, 2020, according to an email sent out by Kia. Kia says "it's been a while and we have news to share."

While the email does not reference the car by name, likely preserving the Optima versus K5 mystery, it does include a small teaser that clearly shows a sedan with all the hallmarks of the Korea-specific model we've already seen.

The North American debut will take place at 2:00 PM Eastern time, finally confirming our suspicions about the new car. Power is expected to be derived from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque or an optional 1.6-liter turbo-four producing 180 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque - both shared with the mechanically related Hyundai Sonata. For the first time ever, the new car is expected to offer an all-wheel-drive option with the 1.6-liter engine.

It is unclear based on the email if only the standard model will be revealed or if we will also see the sporty GT variant. The GT is expected to use the same 2.5-liter turbo-four as the upcoming Hyundai Sonata N-Line producing around 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. It is also unclear if the GT will benefit from AWD, as this could make it an interesting and larger alternative to the Subaru WRX. Pricing may be revealed on the 30th but it is possible that Kia will keep us in the dark until closer to the on-sale date.