Kia begins testing the new Optima AWD

The South Korean automotive giant has commenced tests of its new Optima AWD sedan. The model will primarily target the U.S. market and fight the mid-sized Toyota and Nissan sedans for customers’ wallets.

The new Kia Optima gets all-wheel-drive as a paid option which has never been available before. The development mule depicted on the spy photos was pinned down on the roads of South Korea, but the manufacturer says it will hit the dealerships throughout the United States in summer.

The saloon will ship with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine under the hood, rated at 180 hp (134 kW) and 265 Nm (195 lb-ft) of torque. What kind of transmission the AWD version will use and how much it will cost remains unknown.