Superman’s Hybrid Car Delivered In Chicago

Philippe Crowe — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:17:12 +0000

Fancy a superhero-themed hybrid car? Kia went for it.

Kia Motors America (KMA) said it has teamed up with DC Entertainment and Super Street magazine to create an Optima Hybrid inspired by Superman’s strength and unwavering care for planet Earth.

Unveiled yesterday at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, this Optima Hybrid is the continuation of a 10-month, eight vehicle partnership between Kia and DC Entertainment based on the iconic characters that make up the Justice League – Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg.

An eighth and final vehicle will be an amalgamation of all seven Super Heroes in one.

Influenced by the artistry of comic book visionary, Jim Lee, the Justice League-inspired Kia vehicles serve, according to Kia, as a force for good in the world by raising awareness of DC Entertainment’s “We Can Be Heroes” giving campaign, a relief effort to bring help and hope to people affected by drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.

“As the most recognized Super Hero in the world, Superman is a symbol of strength and integrity, making him the perfect character to join forces with Kia’s first-ever hybrid to create a customized ride powered by a robust and efficient powertrain,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing and communications, KMA. “Each of our Justice League-inspired vehicles are remarkable collaborations between the automotive and comic book worlds, and all for a worthy cause. To that, Kia is very proud to be partnering with DC Entertainment to raise awareness for the ‘We Can Be Heroes’ campaign.”

The Superman-themed Optima Hybrid has been widened with custom fenders, giving the vehicle a muscular appearance, and it features an adjustable suspension system that can raise and lower the vehicle with the push of a button.

The stylized color scheme on the hood spotlights Superman’s unmistakable chest emblem while a red paint design extends to the trunk, evoking the look of his crimson cape. The beveled front grille resembles Superman’s belt, and the red headlights glow with the same intensity of his heat vision.

The interior of the Optima Hybrid is upholstered with custom materials chosen for their unique appearance and texture to reflect Superman’s impenetrable battle armor. Designers also integrated Superman’s iconic “S” shield into the seats and steering wheel to give it the right heroic touch.

“This joint effort to raise awareness for the ‘We Can Be Heroes’ giving campaign through Justice League-inspired cars has proven to be a huge hit with both comic fans and car aficionados,” stated Amit Desai, senior vice president of franchise management, DC Entertainment. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with Kia to bring the latest addition, the Superman-inspired Optima Hybrid, to fans in Chicago and beyond.”

The Superman-themed Optima is equipped with two video screens in the front-seat headrests that will raise awareness about the worst hunger crisis in 60 years by featuring a custom “We Can Be Heroes” video that demonstrates how one small act can make anyone a hero.

As for the performance, we will venture by guessing the team responsible for the car’s conception considered the Kia hybrid’s performance adequate for Superman duties, as nothing has been revealed about modifications to the powertrain.

We not expect to see a special Superman-edition Kia Optima appear on the showroom floor anytime soon.

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