The new K5 runs on the all new N3 platform, and Kia says it's longer, lower, wider, and stronger than the platform that underpins the car it replaces. More importantly for consumers, to whom first impressions matter a lot, the K5 takes the Optima's design and radicalizes it with a sleek fastback profile. The "tiger nose grille" we've become accustomed to is now longer and leaner, just like the rest of the car. The headlights stretch from the grille outward towards the corners of the front bumper, and the turn signals zig-zag into the front fenders. The roofline slopes aggressively into the rear of the car, which now features a full-width taillight.

There will be two engine choices at launch. The smaller of the two is a 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The optional engine is a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-banger that makes a very respectable 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of twist. The 1.8-liter cars get a standard 8-speed auto, but 2.5-liter cars get an all new "wet-clutch" 8-speed DCT. Kia says that, when specified with the 2.5-liter engine, the K5 will spring to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.

The K5 will come in five trims: LX, LXS, GT-Line, and EX in ascending order. Kia promises a more exciting K5 GT for the discerning driver that will make its debut this fall. Most trims will get a chrome grill, but GT and GT-Line cars will be differentiated with a gloss black grille. An AWD option is available on LXS and GT-Line cars, which uses an electro-hydraulic coupling for more immediate response in torque distribution. All K5's will come with Normal, Smart, Sport, and Custom driving modes that alter settings for the transmission, steering, and engine. GT-Line cars will also get a Sport+ option. There will be 16, 18, and 19-inch wheels available on the K5—the latter two will come on Pirelli P Zero rubber to give the car an athletic edge, too.

The interior redesign is less revolutionary, and many of its elements will be familiar to Optima owners of yore. The gauge cluster and steering wheel have both been modernized. The center stack gets a redo, too. Base cars will get an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and an 10.25-inch unit is available with real-time traffic data.

For the first time, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be wireless on a Kia—but not on the upgraded 10.25-inch display, puzzlingly. A panoramic sunroof and acoustic glass are both are both standard equipment on the new K5. A premium Bose sound system with 12 speakers is available, as is wireless charging for your smartphone and natural voice recognition tech for things like turning on the HVAC.