NEW YORK: For Batman fans out there, Kia Motors America (KMA) has teamed up with DC Entertainment and RIDES magazine to create a brooding, Batman-inspired Optima that goes on display this week at the Time Warner Centre.
The custom vehicle also signals the beginning of Kia's ten-month super hero vehicle partnership based on the iconic characters that make up the Justice League.
Besides Batman, other members of the Justice League line-up, among them Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, have been matched to a Kia vehicle based on key attributes and character traits to create custom, one-of-a-kind rides to be unveiled over the next ten months at major auto shows and comic-cons across the US.
Influenced by the artistry of comic book icon, Jim Lee, the Kia super hero vehicle programme will become a force for good in the world by raising awareness of DC Entertainment’s “We Can Be Heroes” giving campaign, a relief effort to fight hunger in the Horn of Africa (www.WeCanBeHeroes.org).
Fitting for the caped crusader’s dark and mysterious personality, Kia’s range-topping Optima SX Limited wraps cutting-edge technology and premium amenities in a sleek, aggressive design customized with several unique Batman elements.
The Batman-themed Optima gets an exterior with a matte- and piano-black paint scheme, a dramatically lowered coilover suspension and muscular ground effects kit, huge Ksport performance brakes for extreme stopping power, custom-designed 20-inch black wheels and a performance exhaust system.
Other exterior modifications include a custom front grille shaped like a batwing that took over 40 hours to create, yellow LED lighting accents throughout the vehicle and the iconic bat signal etched into the HID headlights.
Moving beneath, the Optima’s seating surfaces are costumed in custom black leather and suede with bold yellow accent stitching.
To add comicdom realism to the car, the Batman-themed Optima is ready for action at a moment’s notice with a Bat suit and cowl mounted in the trunk and utility throwing stars installed in the centre console.
“Batman is one of the most popular Super Heroes of all-time, and showcasing in a fun and creative way Kia’s top-of-the-line Optima SX Limited as a Batman-themed custom ride underscores this car’s potent combination of premium features and turbocharged performance,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing and communications, KMA.
“The Optima is our best-selling vehicle and has played a significant role in Kia becoming one of the fastest-growing automotive brands in the US over the last five years, and it is the perfect platform to introduce our partnership with DC Entertainment and the Justice League to benefit the ‘We Can Be Heroes’ campaign.
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News worthiness:
- Human interest, timeliness, proximity, possible future impact,
5H 1W:
Who?
- Kia Motors America (KMA)
What?
- Create a brooding, Batman-inspired Optima that goes on display this week at the Time Warner Centre
Why?
- Batman is one of the most popular Super Heroes of all-time
When?
- 10th October 2012
Where?
- New York
How?
- To add comicdom realism to the car, the Batman-themed Optima is ready for action at a moment’s notice with a Bat suit and cowl mounted in the trunk and utility throwing stars installed in the centre console.
