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Kia's design-led product offensive, goes on sale in the UK from 1 February with fantastic design, high levels of standard specification and low running costs, from just £19,595 on-the-road.

• All-new Optima saloon goes on UK sale from 1 February
• Diesel-only line-up - available with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions
• Four trim levels - all with high levels of standard specification
• 57.6 mpg and 128g/km CO2
• Class-leading interior space
• Priced from just £19,595 on-the-road

Unveiled back in 2010 at the New York Auto Show, Optima has proven to be a global success since day one. It became Korea's top-selling car within a month of going on sale - the first Kia ever to reach that exalted position - and is in such demand in the United States that Kia has had to build in Georgia just to keep pace. Nearly 300,000 Optimas have been sold across the world to date and it is already accumulating international design awards.

The arrival of the Optima means that for the first time Kia has a seriously competitive car in all the key sectors for the UK's fleet and leasing industry - Picanto, Rio, cee'd and now Optima. Three of those cars are all-new models introduced within the last eight months.

The Optima offers features never previously attainable on a Kia, including a high-end Infinity audio system. It delivers 550W of high-fidelity sound through 12 speakers in eight different locations throughout the car, including a boot-mounted subwoofer. Self-parking, heated and cool-ventilated seats, cornering lights, panoramic sunroof, reverse parking camera and an automatic cabin defogging system are also available, as is a six-speed automatic transmission that is among the most advanced currently produced by any car manufacturer.

The Optima is based on an all-new platform which ensures it has class-leading passenger and luggage space and safety features while being no larger than its competitors. The Optima is 45mm longer (4,845mm) and 25mm wider (1,830mm) than Kia's previous D-segment saloon, but of greater significance is the 75mm increase in wheelbase (2,795mm). Front passengers, in particular, benefit from significantly more legroom, and there has also been a small increase in headroom, despite a 25mm reduction in overall height (1,455mm).

And the team which designed the Optima's interior did not focus solely on aesthetics: useful storage spaces, shaped to accommodate the things which real owners like to carry, abound. There is a cooled glovebox, a centre console box, cupholders front and rear, a sunglasses holder, space for bottles in the front and rear doors, pockets in the backs of the front seats and a centre fascia tray large enough for a mobile telephone, conveniently located adjacent to AUX and USB points.