A manual will be available in Europe. Fingers crossed that we get it in the US, but I’m not getting my hopes up.

Oh yeah, slap some black plastic body cladding with scalloped side skirts to make it rugged.

If it’s anything like the last OPC Insignia then AWD & a stick is highly likely.

If Kia wants to market this as a budget sports sedan, manual should be a good option

AWD with a manual would be fantastic.

In that case, I’ll definitely be rooting for 3 pedals (but not getting my hopes up)

While I would hope for 3 pedals too, I won’t be offended if they don’t offer it - I just wouldn’t buy one.

Kia is the slightly cheaper option but also marketed (not sure if tuned differently) as sportier compared to Hyundai who seems to focus on luxury options offered for a value over premium brands.

Yep pretty much all the time.

Kia is Hyundai’s budget brand, like Scion to Toyota. Everything is shared between them. The Sonata and Optima are the same exact car with different styling and interior trims.

eh...nah. Looks a lot like the now totally fugly Nissan Maxima. I’d rather have the more handsome and better sorted Fusion Sport with it’s 325hp TT V6 (though I’d wish they’d make an ST version with a proper gearbox...and a wagon since I’m dreaming)

They are the same company. They nearly 100% share between them.

All the time.

Can I haz with 6MT?

It better have the correct number of pedals.