Sal Collaziano

Since I can only add ONE attachment at a time (holy cow!), I just created a page with the images:

http://www.hyundaikiaforums.com/optima/kia-optima.html

So somebody in my condominium complex bought one of these.. I'm 4 floors up and as I was looking down into the parking lot, I saw this car.. At first glance I thought "who bought a Lexus"? Then I realized it wasn't an LS430 and thought maybe it was an Infinity... I eventually drove past the car and realized it was the new Kia Optima... Even the rims are copied from the LS430.. At first glance, from the front, this looks like the first version of the LS430.. The back and interior look nothing like it - but the interior isn't bad..

I just thought this was all very interesting..

LexFather

Damn!! Good observation!

GFerg

The similarities are killing me. The front looks good though.

The back looks like a 1994 Hyundai.

SoCalSC4

Actually, the front looks more like the Q45 to me.

Or maybe a combination of both cars.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Looks more q45 than LS

tcheung87

Gah, what is with Kia? They did this to our RX300's when they released the Sorento which was a horrible rip off...

-tc

STIG

i saw one on the road the other day and i think it looks pretty good for sub 15K car.

LexFather

Good observation

Looks like it before the refreshining (the one Bob posted)

Seize

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Sal Collaziano

Now if you use a 2001 Lexus LS430, it even CLOSER! With the less edgy headlights...

tuddy

when i first saw the ad for this car on tv thats the first car that popped into my head was the Q45

picus

KrazyLexus

Loooks to be more of a copy of the Q45 than the LS. Look at how the grill is designed.

TheRupp

Wow. Should I remind anyone of the previous gen E Class and S-Type and the current Optima? Or the previous gen Sorrento and the previous gen RX300? Seriously, Kia, get your own designs.

akhbhaat

Those who live in glass houses...