With everyone riding the "green wave" these days, it's no surprise that KIA launched its first-ever hybrid for the U.S. market, the Optima Hybrid. Combining the standard model's good looks with several technological innovations, the newest member of the Optima family returns a frugal 40 mpg (5.88 lt/100 km) on the highway.

"By adding our first-ever hybrid in the U.S. to the Optima lineup we are providing consumers with three powerful and fuel-efficient powertrain choices, and continuing KIA's philosophy of offering stylish, value-packed vehicles with outstanding fuel efficiency" said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.

The Optima Hybrid uses a full parallel hybrid system and can be driven in full-electric mode at speeds up to 62 mph (100 km/h). It also has a stop/start function, which eliminates idle fuel consumption and reduces overall emissions.

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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.

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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.

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This is a look at the upcoming Kia Optima's interior. I'll lay this out there: It looks like it could be pretty good.

According to a post on Kia's Korean website (yes, we let do-no-evil Google handle the translation), the Optima's interior will feature "Bio-Care" heated seats, heated steering wheel... [and] a Driver-oriented sporty stylish and ergonomic interior design." That's a lot of adjectives, but it looks the part.

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Kia's newest Optima (or Magentis/K5, depending on the market), that's set for a New York Auto Show debut at the end of the month, has been caught out on the town, somewhere in Korea. Found on TheCarBlogger (courtesy of the tall, dark and handsome Sanghoon), the site points out that this is likely the base model due to the seriously-undersized wheels. We'll agree.

What remains questionable is the Kia's C-pillar, which is reminiscent of an upside-down Hofmeister kink. Looks like we're going to have to see that in person; otherwise, looking pretty crisp.

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Getting ready to debut its tiger-style in New York is the Kia Optima or, in other markets' case, the Magentis. Set to go on sale this Fall (Spring 2011 in Europe), the new Optima is clearly light years ahead of the outgoing model in regards to looks.

Big news other than the leap forward in design is that, much like the recently-debuted Sportage, the new model is "longer, wider, and lower"; that seems to be the name of the game.

This, along with its longer wheelbase, will provide more space in order to go up against D-segment top dogs like the Passat, Camry, and Mondeo.

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An all-new generation of the Kia Magentis, known in several markets including the U.S. as the Optima, will have its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in early April.

The teaser sketches of the 2011 Magentis suggest that the new sedan with the coupe-like roofline will be a much more interesting affair in terms of design than today's model and possibly more sportier looking than the larger Cadenza that will replace the Opirus in the States.

Kia said that the new Magentis will also be longer, lower and wider than the previous model, featuring a significantly longer wheelbase and will offer "considerably more" space for both people and luggage.

The South Korean firm's new proposal in the mid-size sedan segment is scheduled to reach North American shores from autumn 2010, while sales in Europe are expected to begin in the Spring of 2011.

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