Kia reveals a Superman Optima Hybrid in Chicago

Sporting Superman colors, the Optima joins the ranks of Kia's Justice League cars.

By Kirk Bell of MSN Autos

 

 

Kia has teamed up with DC Entertainment to build a series of Justice League-inspired custom cars for charity. The first five appeared late last year, and at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, Kia unveiled the Superman Optima Hybrid. The Superman Optima is the sixth of eight planned Justice League cars being built to raise awareness of DC Entertainment's "We Can Be Heroes" campaign to help bring relief to people affected by drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

What is it? A superhero-themed custom car to support charity.

What's hot? The Superman Optima was conceived and designed as a collaboration with the crew from Super Street magazine, Justice League writer and illustrator Jim Lee and car designer and comic-book artist Jon Sibal. They worked with MV Designz in Orange, Calif., to build the car, which features widened fenders and a full ground-effects kit to give it a purposeful stance on its 20-inch Bavaria 5-spoke wheels.

The Superman blue paint scheme is highlighted by the iconic "S" crest on the hood and black outlines to mimic the sections of Superman's battle armor. Red foil character lines start up front and expand to cover the rear pillars and trunk to mimic the Man of Steel's crimson cape. Kia also notes that the beveled grille resembles Superman's belt and the red headlights "glow with the same intensity of his heat vision." The "S" shield is also found on the seats and steering wheel, and blue leather covers the seats and portions of the dashboard.

The first five cars built for the campaign were the Aquaman Rio, Batman Optima, Flash Forte Koup, Cyborg Forte and Green Lantern Soul. A Wonder Woman Sportage will debut at the New York International Auto Show this spring, and at San Diego Comic-Con in July, Kia will show a Sorento with depictions of all seven of the superheroes. This Sorento will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to We Can Be Heroes.

What's not? How can you say anything bad about a charity effort, especially one to help people devastated by the worst drought in 60 years? Maybe Superman would prefer a turbocharged model, but Kia says it chose the hybrid because of Superman's "unwavering care for planet Earth."

How much and when? Won't be for sale.

MSN Autos' verdict: Kudos to Kia, DC Entertainment and Super Street for their charitable efforts. People everywhere love superheroes, so these cars will certainly attract attention at auto shows. That raises more awareness for We Can Be Heroes and perhaps will inspire more people to donate.

For images of the other five superhero Kia's checkout our next blog at:
http://autoemporiummagazine.blogspot.com/2013/02/superhero-kias-at-chicago-auto-show.html

Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, and currently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.