When Kia first announced that they would be introducing a hybrid variant of their wildly-popular Kia Optima, the automotive world was unsure of how to react. Sure, models like the Kia Forte have received some of the top auto reviews in its industry; but, it's also hard to deny that there isn't something just a bit cliché about releasing a hybrid variant of your best-selling sedan. Still, we here at Palm Kia knew that the South Korean automaker wouldn't release a product that it wasn't willing to stand behind 100 percent.

With the release of the Kia Optima Hybrid, Kia proved that it isn't just listening to the ever-growing eco conscience of car-buyers today; they're innovating the automotive world forever! More specifically, we're talking about the fact that the Kia Optima Hybrid jus set a world record for its fuel economy, entering the South Korean automaker into the history books... well more specifically, into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The specific record that Wayne Gerdes and Chris Bernius recently broke is for having the highest fuel economy when traveling across all 48 continental states. While some may have expected this record to go to the Oval T's hybrid, we knew that Kia had it in them to defy everyone's expectations. Overall, the duo traveled 7,899 miles at an average of 64.55 miles per gallon! What's more impressive is that the trip only took 14 days and they averaged about 564 miles driven in a day. The Optima consumed around five-and-a-half tanks of gas during the trip, averaging about 1,418 miles per fill-up.

"While traveling across the United States the Optima Hybrid experienced temperatures ranging from more than 118 degrees Fahrenheit to less than freezing point." Kia's senior executive vice president and chief operating officer Thomas Oh said in a statement.¹

If you'd like to learn more about the Kia Optima, Optima Hybrid, or Kia Forte, then make sure to have a look at our new Kia inventory and showroom pages. When you're there, you'll be able to access a wide range of info concerning how to best finance your new vehicle, along with how you can keep it running like new for years to come with the help of our amazing Kia parts and service departments.

But, if you really want to get a good feel for models like the Kia Sorento and Kia Rio, then we highly recommend coming down to 2305 SW College Rd Ocala, FL 34471 to take them for a test drive. You can arrange a test drive simply by either dialing (877) 298 9494 or by submitting a contact form online.

Source: ¹http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/09/13/kia-optima-sets-guinness-record-for-fuel-economy/