The Kia K5 is coming to the United States as a replacement for the Optima sedan. Overall, the car is identical to its Korean counterpart save for a few details.
The U.S. version will not ship with any kind of naturally aspirated engine. Instead, it will be available with a 1.6-liter turbo-four mill rated at 183 hp (136 kW) and 264 Nm (195 lb-ft). This spec will ship with the usual eight-speed automatic transmission and optional part-time AWD (electro-hydraulic rear axle coupling).
The top spec is called Kia K5 GT, and it packs a 2.5-liter turbo-four engine with 294 hp (220 kW) and 422 Nm (311 lb-ft) at the output end. The one comes equipped with an eight-speed dual-wet-clutch automatic transmission and is FWD-only. It can sprint 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 5.8 seconds and boasts suspension tweaks, rack-mounted power steering, performance brakes and 19-inch wheels.
The USA won’t be receiving the optional digital dashboard available in Korea, the button-based HVAC controls or the gear selector knob. Instead, they will make do with a lever for switching gears, a rotary knob-based HVAC interface, and cheaper trim materials.
Production has already started in Georgia, USA. Sales should start later this summer, with the K5 GT joining the lineup in the fall and the AWD versions arriving in late 2020.