The latest ad by Kia Motors America puts the K5 GT right up against the German BMW 330i, with a bold claim that the Korean performance sedan accelerates faster on dry asphalt and handles better everywhere.
The K5 GT has an all-wheel drive system and comes powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 294 hp (219 kW) and 422 Nm (312 lb-ft) of torque. In contrast, the 330i has RWD, only two liters of displacement, 255 hp (190 kW) and 398 Nm (294 lb-ft) of torque. The one area where it pulls ahead is the initial sprint: the BMW hits 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 5.6 seconds, while the Kia lags two-tenths of a second behind.
The voiceover cites AMCI data according to which the Kia handles better overall and gains speed faster on dry asphalt, suggesting that this may be why BMW owners feel the urge to compete with each other.
The new Kia K5 GT was introduced three months ago. It packs an eight-speed automated manual transmission with a dual-wet-clutch design. You can pay extra to get it with an AWD system that uses an electrohydraulic rear axle coupling.