Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June 5th

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Rybold, May 11, 2011.

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  1. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    Read more: Kia Media
     
    #1 Rybold, May 11, 2011
  2. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    35/40, is it the same as Sonata?
     
    #2 spwolf, May 11, 2011
  3. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    [​IMG]
     
    #3 cyclopathic, May 11, 2011
  4. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    "The Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS), standard on the Optima Hybrid, plays a pre-recorded engine sound during electric-only operation to help notify people outside the vehicle that it is approaching ... "

    If it can't be turned off then this car won't get on my list.
     
    #4 zenMachine, May 11, 2011
  5. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    #5 billnchristy, May 11, 2011
  6. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    Yes, exactly the same.

    Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has less interior room than the Prius. HSH has 10 cu.ft more in passenger volume but 11 cu.ft less in cargo.

    I wonder about KOH.
     
    #6 usbseawolf2000, May 11, 2011
  7. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    I never thought I'd say it, bet I really like how the Kia Optima looks.
     
    #7 a_gray_prius, May 11, 2011
  8. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    It's kinda Saaby
     
    #8 billnchristy, May 11, 2011
  9. johnmaci

    johnmaci Junior Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    I'll stick with my 50 MPG city thank you very much....
     
    #9 johnmaci, May 11, 2011
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    I wonder how many of those features are "Standard" it sounds well appointed for the price. I guess Prius has just set the MPG bar so high, that I get disappointed when I hear 35/40....it's a "nicer" bigger vehicle, but that isn't much better mileage than I get with my Honda Fit.

    With Japan still recovering and most Japanese automakers still facing production problems Hyundai/Kia could make inroads by simply having a product available in good quantity. If gas goes through the roof this summer (and I think it will).
     
    #10 The Electric Me, May 11, 2011
  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    I've noted that for many Kia/Hyundias I've seen. Guess they just take inspiration from 10+ year old European cars.
     
    #11 Trollbait, May 11, 2011
  12. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    I believe their lead designer was taken from VW/Audi or another German maker.
     
    #12 sipnfuel, May 11, 2011
  13. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    Suppose its better than copying current cars.

    I know there is a huge size and luxury difference but you could almost buy 2 Fiestas or other great MPG small car for the price and almost same econ.
     
    #13 billnchristy, May 11, 2011
  14. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    Kia/Hyundai have advantage of low Won these days, so they can price their product competitively and add more features for same price.

    I think Won has devalued by 30% in past 4 years.

    In any case, good for us customers.

    Only bad thing is that it has same trunk as Camry Hybrid, so i have no clue where this space saving of lithium batteries went.
     
    #14 spwolf, May 11, 2011
  15. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    Yes, their lead designer that does all of their cars since 2005, has been with Audi previously for 15+ years.

    It shows too.... I read an interview with him and he pointed out that they needed to improve interior packaging and quality perception more, and I agree... with those two, they would easily have one of the best looking cars, no matter what the price is.
     
    #15 spwolf, May 11, 2011
  16. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    You are right. Ford Fusion hybrid with NiMH has bigger (11.8 cu.ft) trunk.

    Lithium space saving seems to be just a marketing hype. Let's see if it lives up to NiMH reliability.
     
    #16 usbseawolf2000, May 11, 2011
  17. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    I wonder if a hybrid Elantra would get something like 45 city / 48 highway
     
    #17 sipnfuel, May 11, 2011
  18. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    Not with the automatic transmission. It locks the ICE at certain gear ratio, preventing / limiting it from tapping the sweetest efficiency spot.
     
    #18 usbseawolf2000, May 11, 2011
  19. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    It saves a little weight and a little volume. The sonata gains IIRC about 250lbs in hybrid form versus about 400 for the FFH and TCH. The battery is just a little bit of this. The packaging is different between these may account for the apparent differences. You have to compare it to how Hyundai would have packaged nimh. The cars should be compared as a whole. Any of these trunks is small compared to our prii:D

    The sonata provides another choice, and is close to ford for mpg leadership in this class (37versus 39). It provides a different experience and hopefully will help move midsize sedan buyers to the hybrid versions.
     
    #19 austingreen, May 11, 2011
  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Re: Kia press release today: Optima hybrid gets 40mpg, costs $26,500, and will be in showrooms June

    HSH is 37 MPG while FFH is 39 MPG. TCH really needs a redesign.
     
    #20 usbseawolf2000, May 11, 2011
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