Kia's first production hybrid will have its world debut next month at the New York auto show. The power train will be offered in the redesigned 2011 Optima; both gasoline and hybrid versions will debut in New York.
U.S. sales of the hybrid are expected to begin in the fourth quarter, "although they could slip into next year," said Alex Fedorak, a Kia spokesman. Optima sales outside the United States will begin this year.
The Optima is Kia's top-of-the-line sedan. The nonhybrid 2010 model starts at $17,995 without shipping. Last year, Kia sold 37,527 Optimas in the United States, down 16 percent from the previous year.
(Source: Automotive News)