New Kia Optima GT could be UK bound
Kia UK want the Optima GT that's on sale in Europe but they want it with a power boost.
Britain may get a more powerful version of the Kia Optima GT which recently went on sale in Germany.
The 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol model delivers 242bhp and 353Nm of torque in the German market. However, Auto Express understands that UK bosses are pushing for an upgraded version to come to Britain which will significantly up the ante, possibly to around 280bhp. The power is delivered through a six-speed auto box.
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Head of vehicle testing and high-performance development Albert Biermann is overseeing a programme designed to tune the car to deliver the handling and ride expected by British drivers. The GT is available as a saloon or Sportswagon estate, but it is the latter that Kia believes has more potential in Britain.
The Optima GT was first seen as a prototype at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and is the second company’s second GT model following the Cee’d and Pro_cee’d.
It features a redesigned tiger nose grille, more athletic styling and different wheel designs from the standard Optima.
The company’s latest model, the newly unveiled Rio, is thought unlikely to spawn a GT version with bosses suggesting a sportily styled GT Line variant is as far as they are prepared to go.
Would you like to see the Kia Optima GT sold in the UK? Let us know in the comments...
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