Kia Optima badge exits Australia

The Kia Optima, which survived through four generations in Australia, has now all but left local showrooms. It was only a couple of years ago that Kia's Australian division said it would stand by the slow-selling Optima, promising to "work harder" on its positioning. Then, in March last year, Kia confirmed the fourth-generation Optima (the second was sold here as the Magentis) would be the last offered in Australia.