The Boston Globe Names The Kia Optima One of the Top Drives For 2012

FYI: Kia Buyer's Guide

Stylish Mid-size Sedan Hailed As "First-Class"

- Award-winning Optima recognized for spacious interior and fun-to-drive performance

- Optima was recently added to the production line at Kia Motors' manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia

IRVINE, CA--Dec. 23, 2011: The critically acclaimed, U.S.-built, Kia Optima added another accolade to its trophy case this week when it was named to The Boston Globe's annual Top Ten Drives List for 2012, beating out more than 100 cars and trucks.  Optima's world-class design and technology features impressed editors who dubbed the Optima a "first-class, five-passenger, mid-sized sedan" with a "surprisingly spacious interior," and appreciated the available heated steering wheel during the cold New England winter months.

"With its powerful combination of world-class design, advanced technology, turbocharged performance and outstanding value, the Optima has been turning heads since arriving in showrooms in January and demand has outpaced supply all year," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing and communications, Kia Motors America (KMA).  "Kia is the fastest growing car company in the U.S.(1)and earning a spot on The Boston Globe's Top Ten Drives List adds to our unprecedented momentum heading into 2012."

The Boston Globe 2012 Top Ten Drives List spans a wide range of vehicles and prices in all segments, but they all feature key core traits such as excellent performance, quality construction, fine details and solid value.

About the 2012 Optima
The 2012 Kia Optima stands apart from the crowd with its head-turning design, fun-to-drive performance, modern amenities and long list of standard safety features. Kia's second U.S.-built(2) vehicle offers drivers cutting-edge technologies, including a standard eight-speaker Infinity®(3) audio system, HD Radio(4), and Kia's UVO powered by Microsoft®(5) voice-activated infotainment and communications system with a starting MSRP of $19,500(6).

Design-Led Transformation and Product Line
Kia Motors has undergone a dramatic, design-led transformation, which has been delivering dynamically styled vehicles in several important segments at exactly the right time, contributing to the brand's continued gains in U.S. market share.  Kia is poised to continue its momentum and brand growth through design innovation, quality, value, safety features and new technology.  Kia's commitment to the U.S. market is represented by its U.S.-based manufacturing facilities in West Point, Georgia -- KMMG -- which is responsible for the creation of more than 10,000 plant and supplier jobs and added the critically-acclaimed Optima midsize sedan(7) to its production line in September.  Kia's model year 2012 vehicle line includes the Sorento CUV, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Forte compact sedan, Forte 5-door compact hatchback, Forte Koup two-door coupe, all-new Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and Sedona minivan.