New Kia Optima Shows Up in Paris to show VW how to Design a Mid-Size Sedan

The Kia Optima, which made its original debut in New York, has crossed the pond to give the Europeans a little bit of that Korean flava (or is that German?) and rub the 2011 VW Passat B7's newly styled nose in the ground. Riding on the same platform as the "fluidic" Hyundai Sonata, the Optima brings Kia's "tiger" style to the mid-size saloon segment.

The results speak for themselves; anyone with an iota of style would walk straight past the humdrum Passat and get in this.

With a pretty face, a driver-centric cockpit, and some efficient engines - a 170-horsepower 2.0-liter gasoline unit and a 136-horsepower 1.7-liter turbo diesel - here's hoping this will continue to push the Koreans into Europe and light a fire under the designers of the usually-conservative mid-size German players.

For the essential specs on the European Kia Optima, check out our previous post. European readers out there, it's time for you to weight in: is the Kia Optima possibly worth your Euros, or will you still be buying European?

By Phil Alex

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READ MORE - New Kia Optima Shows Up in Paris to show VW how to Design a Mid-Size Sedan

Sigh... Viral Marketing Tricksters Knock on our Door with a Kia Called Mediocrity

We not sure how Kia's marketing people are going to feel about this one (unless they're part of it...), but photos of an older generation Optima covered in beige cladding and featuring a badge with the word "MEDIOCRITY" have just landed in our mail box. Tony B, the tipster-reader-scooper who sent in the photos, claims he snagged the car in LA.

Of course, it didn't take long to figure out that this is a viral campaign of some sort. However, since we're gearing up for this week's Paris Motor Show, we're not going to waste our time looking for answers about a covered up Kia...

Nonetheless, this is what we know: the photos we're shot on September 10; a similar set of images along with an almost identical text were also sent to Motorauthority (even though they mistook it for a "seven year old" Mitsubishi). See both texts below:

From Tony to Carscoop:

"I was in LA last week and saw 3 or maybe 4 identical test cars. The other spy cars had more testing gear taped on and computers and other screens visible, but by the time I was able to find my camera , I was only able to catch up with one of the cars.

I don't know what kind of test car this is, but they sure didn't want us to take any pictures. There was a M on the grille and a nameplate on back reading MEDIOCRITY. Are they serious? MEDIOCRITY?"

From Tina to MA:

"I was in L.A. last week with my husband and we saw several (5 or 6) identical test cars. The other spy cars had more testing gear taped on and computers and other screens visible, but by the time I was able to dig my camera out of my purse, I was only able to catch up with one of the cars.

I don't know what kind of test car this is, but they sure didn't want us to take any pictures. There was a M on the grille and a nameplate on back reading MEDIOCRITY. Are they serious? MEDIOCRITY?"

And well, that's about it. Feel free to have some fun in the comments section below.

"Scoop" Pictures:

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2004 Kia Optima:

READ MORE - Sigh... Viral Marketing Tricksters Knock on our Door with a Kia Called Mediocrity

Paris Motor Show Poll: Kia Optima vs Peugeot 508 vs VW Passat

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, we saw three new mid-size sedans making their way to the halls of the Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles. Two of them, the all-new Peugeot 508 and the redesigned VW Passat B7, received their world premiere, while the Kia Optima was presented for the first time in Europe.

Now, we all know you can't and you shouldn't buy a car based upon looks or preliminary specs alone. It's the whole package that counts. However, in this case, we simply want to find out which one of these new family sedans captured your attention for the right reasons.

Place your vote in the poll after the jump and be sure to have your say in the comments section.

Which mid-size sedan do you like more?

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READ MORE - Paris Motor Show Poll: Kia Optima vs Peugeot 508 vs VW Passat