Only until recently, the Kia Optima 2.0-litre Turbo was only reserved for the North American market as it was solely available in left-hand drive mode.

However, Kia has managed to overcome the engineering impediments to building a right-hand drive version which is starting to roll off the production line.

The Optima turbo features direct injection and is rated at 274bhp with 365Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. The top-of-the range Optima completes the century sprint in a brisk 6.8 seconds. This means that the Optima turbo reaches the 100km/h mark faster than a BMW 520i.

The addition of the Optima turbo will strengthen Kia's image in Singapore if it is introduced here. The Korean sedan will finally have the 'go' to match the 'show' and put it in a better position to compete with the Europeans.

Here's a short video review of the Kia Optima Turbo: