Kia Motors Korea just dropped the first official
sketches of the all-new K5 midsize sedan which the U.S. will get as the 2021
Optima. Scheduled to debut in December, the third-generation Kia K5 will
adopt a completely new design inside and out as these renderings indicate.
According to the automaker, the all-new Kia K5 will evolve from a sedan into a
sleek fastback that sports bold design elements “to create an intense and
futuristic image.”
Besides the sloping roofline, key exterior styling
tweaks also include a new face defined by the aggressive headlights and
recessed radiator grille, which form a single continuous element. Kia calls this a “Tiger Face” and
says the element shows the direction of the brand’s next-generation design and
will be applied to its future models. The headlights and taillights are “shaped
like a heartbeat” and that’s especially obvious at the front as the DRL
signature follows the unusual shape of the headlamps.
At the rear, we can see that the LED taillights are
connected by an illuminated strip but the light signature consists of many
fragmented segments. This sketch also provides a look at the unusual C-pillar
which is crossed by a thick molding that extends to the trunk lid “embracing”
the rear screen. These may be just sketches, but it’s pretty clear the 2021
Optima will look much less conventional than the current model.
As for the interior, Kia says it follows the concept
of “driver-centered future orientation,” offering plenty of space and openness.
The dashboard features a fully digital instrument panel next to a widescreen
center display oriented towards the driver. The AVN (Audio Video Navigation)
system is said to offer futuristic image quality via the three-dimensional main
screen.
The third-generation Kia K5 will have its world
debut in Korea in December before launching in North America sometime next year
as the 2021 Optima.
