2017 Kia Optima Hybrid

                Since its inception, the modern hybrid has seen its share of ups and downs. As gas prices fluctuate, so do their popularity. When gas prices were high, early hybrid models were the stars of manufacturers’ lineups, then when gas prices dropped SUVs and Crossovers became popular. But now even with low gas prices, hybrids are starting to make a comeback.

                Now, years after the initial hybrid boom, manufacturers have had time to develop better technology and styling for their vehicles. Today’s generations of hybrids are more stylish and appealing to consumers, and the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid is at the forefront of the pack. The 2017 Optima Hybrid has all the features as the non-hybrid Optima but get 42 MPG. The Optima Hybrid has a slightly more athletic and aerodynamic shell. The big exterior add-on is new active grille shutters and aerodynamic changes to the front and rear fenders.

                Under the Optima Hybrids hood is a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder gas engine paired 38-kilowatt electric motor and a 1.62-kilowatt-hour-battery pack. Kia added a torque converter with a clutch and electric motor to its six speed automatic transmission, this melds together different power sources into a zero-emissions system. The Optima Hybrid’s total system output is 192 horsepower with 271 pound-feet of torque, netting 39 mpg city and 46 mpg highway.

                The 2017 Optima Hybrid cost $3,500 more than the gas-only Optima LX, but you make up that cost really quickly when you start factoring in gas savings, the Optima Hybrid Premium I starts at $26,845. Check out our selection of Kia Optima Hybrids and contact us to test drive yours today!

                

The Kia Stinger is on the Way!

This year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it was one of the hometown brands that made a splash, it was import Kia. South Korean automaker Kia, stole the show when they unveiled their wild-looking high-performance sports sedan, aptly named the Stinger.

From the onset, it appears that this is just another concept vehicle for the auto show, but it is not, it is a real product. And consumers don’t have to wait very long for the Stinger to arrive on showroom floors. The Stinger will arrive before the end of 2017. The Stinger is a sports sedan with a “fastback” shape, that is inspired by Kia’s 2011 concept car the GT. The Stinger is built on a brand new rear-wheel-drive platform, a platform that it shares with its corporate cousin, Hyundai’s luxury brand the Genesis G70.  The new platform gives the Stinger a low-slung long-wheelbase look that is quite dynamitic, a look that resembles Audi’s A5 and A7 and the Porsche Panamera.

Kia is stepping their game up with the performance of the Stinger. Rear-wheel-drive is standard with the stinger, but for those wishing for a little extra they offer the option of all-wheel-drive. Kia is giving two options for the engine in the Stinger. Standard is the 255 horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder motor. The optional choice is the smoking hot 3.3-liter V6 turbo “Lambda” engine, cranking out a staggering 365 horsepower. The chassis is a brand new development for Kia, designed by former BMW designers, with high performance at the forefront.

The Stinger continues its high performance and luxury feel in the interior, with a laundry list of premium features. The long list of driver-assist features include pieces typically associated with luxury models, including the latest version of Kia’s adaptive cruise control system, heads-up display and touchscreen “infotainment “system.

"Unlike any Kia that has come before it, the Stinger really is a dream car for us, and here today in Detroit, that dream is now a reality after years of commitment and hard work from a passionate group of designers, engineers and executives around the world. From its GT concept-car origins to the years of tuning and refining on the legendary Nurburgring circuit, no detail was too small to be obsessed over, and the result is simply stunning."

- Orth Hedrick, Kia's product-planning chief for North America

                Kia said that pricing and fuel-economy numbers will be announced later this year. Until then check out our current inventory and contact us to test drive your new Kia today!