Kia Dropping Optima ...............name ?? and new Kia emblem

[westcoastGT]

Kia Optima Might Not Be Called Kia Optima Anymore

 

[Shrikecorp]

Makes sense. Optimas have been decent for a while now, but before that? Not. Splendid. Distancing from that history...I get that.

 

[westcoastGT]

Makes sense. Optimas have been decent for a while now, but before that? Not. Splendid. Distancing from that history...I get that.

From your pic book of previous cars Shrike ??? Bawaaaaa

 

[Shrikecorp]

From your pic book of previous cars Shrike ??? Bawaaaaa

Nah...given context of when I owned each of them, the only one I truly hated was the Swedish Dent Magnet (Saab 93). Oddly, it did everything *fine*. It did nothing really well. Comprehensive mediocrity is hard to accept. And it was the victim of 3 hit and runs.

 

[Waynerm002]

Personally, I wanted them to use the "E" logo and put KIA on the top of it,much like BMW has a logo but the letters aren't plastered on the car. At least it is a change.

 

[Kia Stinger]

I think Kia is trying to take the Optima up a notch to "near luxury" status. The Optima has had some corny marketing in the past. Maybe they want to leave behind any stigmas with the old name. I'm not crazy about alphanumeric names - but it may be the rest route for Kia to take...

 

[Waynerm002]

New badge, new model names, new brand of vehicles, it might just be the thing they need to catapult them into the eyes of those that never though of them before.

 

[westcoastGT]

New badge, new model names, new brand of vehicles, it might just be the thing they need to catapult them into the eyes of those that never though of them before.

I really have a tough time believing an alpha numeric strategy is what they plan to do ....................with recent successful launches like Telluride , Niro , Steltos and icons like Soul , Forte , Sportage , Sorento etc it would be an internal frontal attack on a very successful branding strategy ................but Peter came from Audi ???...........do they have a car this isn't A something , Fun to watch

 

[westcoastGT]

Caddy to forego alpha numeric branding , moving back to naming their brands ...............



Cadillac is going back to real names for its cars as it switches to EVs

 

[Waynerm002]

I really have a tough time believing an alpha numeric strategy is what they plan to do ....................with recent successful launches like Telluride , Niro , Steltos and icons like Soul , Forte , Sportage , Sorento etc it would be an internal frontal attack on a very successful branding strategy ................but Peter came from Audi ???...........do they have a car this isn't A something , Fun to watch

Peter is gone. In Korea, their main sedan products are named K3, K5, K7 and K9. Based on their changes and upgrades, they seem to be making their way towards becoming a premium brand. As they say they don't have any plans on starting a luxury brand, they can certainly make their vehicles a higher tier of the mass market brand. Mazda is also doing the same, so is Hyundai. With the top tier luxury car brands moving on up in the price bracket, they have left a gap where other brands can come in and fill that space.

 

[westcoastGT]

Peter is gone. In Korea, their main sedan products are named K3, K5, K7 and K9. Based on their changes and upgrades, they seem to be making their way towards becoming a premium brand. As they say they don't have any plans on starting a luxury brand, they can certainly make their vehicles a higher tier of the mass market brand. Mazda is also doing the same, so is Hyundai. With the top tier luxury car brands moving on up in the price bracket, they have left a gap where other brands can come in and fill that space.

Hey Wayne Merry Christmas !! I believe when Luc took over Peters job he moved into a new role as President of Design for Hyundai Motor Group , so not likely doing day to day stuff, but there to make sure things dont fall off the rails . I'm not sure a Global move to reposition established brands to A/N monikers is a Move to premium . maybe efficiencies to be had though ..............the new KIA logo is probably the thing to watch and see how they role it out .................I agree that the Lux brands are leaving a GAP , but not because they've moved up in price , but because the Mass Brands are serving up stellar value and features that eventually make the Lux buyer segments question the Value of their brands ...........there are several of us here from German brands and feeling a tad "smarter" than the flocks and herds............................

 

[Waynerm002]

Lol, I hear you on the German brands. I traded my beloved 2010 535 M-Sport for a 2012 Optima Hybrid and have been with KIA since. Had a couple of Volvos as the second car but returned the S60 T5 R-Design early, for the Stinger. With the new Optima, there are a lot of tech features that should be on the facelifted Stinger but as we know the Koreans and other markets might get stuff we won't. This thing is a beaut though:

Stinger's little brother




I thought I had heard that Peter retired. It would be good if he is still in the mix and helping to bring some sportier vehicles to the market. I think they have an opportunity to do a 4 door coupe style, performance SUV. With Telluride coming out as a true 7 passenger SUV and the replacement Sorrento in the works, I was hoping they would go that way. Or do that with the Sportage. I believe KIA will continue to surprise us with their vehicle offerings. Let's hope they get all the issues with the 2.5T sorted and then be able to bring a higher performance version of it in the Stinger or combine it with an electric motor for even more power in a wagon body, K5 Sportback RS anyone?