With sales of mainstream executive cars still declining, the Kia Optima has been axed in the UK, and the Stinger sports sedan reduced to one powertrain.
Kia UK has confirmed to Autocar it will no longer be importing the Optima into the country. The executive/family car is only available as the Sportswagon estate, and buyers who want the car will be services from existing stock.
The new Optima, which is due to be launched in 2020, won’t be coming to the UK. Just 14,000 Optimas were sold across Europe in 2018, or about 10% of Volkswagen Passats sold that year.
Sales of executive/family cars are down sharply across the board, with sales down by almost 80% from the heady days of the early 2000s.
With its RWD/AWD platform and smart styling, Kia was hoping the Stinger would make a bigger impact. Sales have slow throughout the world, with just 3820 sold in Europe in 2018.
For 2020, the Stinger will be reduced to the 3.3L twin-turbo V6, with the 2L turbo I4 and diesel dropped from the range.
Source: Autocar
