Since 2000, the Kia Optima (also the Kia Magentis, depending on where you live) has become so much more than a spin-off of the Hyundai Sonata. All the way up until the 2010 model year, the Optima has been a cheaper, underwhelming platform compared to the other entry-level luxury cars that it desperately tried to compete against in North America, but with a European injection from ex Volkswagen Auto Group designer Peter Schreyer, Kia鈥檚 four-door would finally become a viable player. This move also introduced the Korean sedan to enthusiasts, who are always hungry for a new platform to build upon.
One such enthusiast is Sunny Suravarapu, who was in the market for something new back in 2014. Deciding between an Infiniti G37 or a convertible BMW 335i, but not able to find one in the spec he wanted that fit his budget, he started looking outside the box. That鈥檚 when he spotted an ad for a 2013 Kia Optima that he couldn鈥檛 ignore. The last 2013 left at the dealer, which had already been lowered and had an aftermarket exhaust added to make it that much more enticing, left the lot and came home with Suravarapu, where he would transform it further.
Suravarapu has quite the track record with modified vehicles, as an active member of Team Hybrid for over a decade and builder of the first six-speed manual Accord with two doors and two turbos (a fantastic project that we featured back in 2010), there was never any question that the Optima would be worked over, inside and out.
Not long after getting the Optima signed over, a SEMA spot was offered to Suravarapu, which lit the fire to get the car together quickly 鈥� we鈥檙e talking four months fast, from lowering springs and exhaust to full-on show car. And with a platform that鈥檚 not very supported from an aftermarket standpoint, you can see where the challenge would be, but this isn鈥檛 Suravarapu鈥檚 first rodeo, so he knew exactly the people to talk to in terms of getting the Kia done by deadline.
The lowering springs became a full D2 Racing air suspension system with their Vera system management, and the unnamed aftermarket exhaust switched to Ark Performance, even splurging for titanium tips, plus a better-flowing down-pipe and cat from 845 Motorsports that equate to newfound sound and performance from the directly-injected Theta II engine. To further bolster that kick, 845 Motorsports also modified the stock turbo and added their upgraded intercooler. Combined with AEM meth injection, more squirt from some 400cc injectors, and a Byetronik tuner mounted with a custom tune from Concept 3, this Kia is uncharacteristically quick. Bringing the Optima down are a set of big brakes from D2, four-piston in the rear and six-piston in the front, which are color-matched to the same gold that takes place on the lips of the 20-inch three-piece Rennen MV-55 wheels on all four corners.
A fast car should have a fast color, too, so Suravarapu sprang for three stages of a Ferrari shade of red 鈥� Rosso Scuderia from BASF. This red dress drapes over a full Korean K5-styled kit from Ikon Motorsports, as well as a Seibon carbon fiber trunk and vented hood, showing just a hint of carbon on the openings of the latter. Other additions of carbon fiber, like the Concept 3 diffuser and SoCal Garage Works fender inserts, grille, and mirror covers add to the sportiness that Suravarapu aims for his Optima to exude. Add to that the modern twist that the custom-built Living Light angel eye headlights and blacked out front turn signal area provide, and this Kia is fit to turn all kinds of heads on the show floor.
鈥淚 just wanted to make the car my own and I can鈥檛 leave any car I own stock,鈥� he admits. 鈥淟ike other builders, I want to make something that鈥檚 basically 鈥榗ool,鈥� but clean and quality because those elements are timeless. I wanted to keep it sporty and not have an identity crisis. If someone sees it they know it鈥檚 sporty, not asking 鈥業s it sporty or is it VIP? What鈥檚 it trying to be?鈥欌��
While the look from the outside is great, the interior really shines as well. A Plus Upholstery has done up the headliner, door inserts, and sun visors in diamond-stitched leather, which is repeated on the Katzkin leather seat covers to complete the look. Carbon fiber, like the exterior, is a major player here as well, covering much of the dash and trimming the AEM AFR and boost gauges, while the stitched leather makes its way into the trunk to dress up the air and audio install that Kreative Audio & Tint knocked out of the park. Two 12-inch Phoenix Gold Elite2 subwoofers fire into the trunk space, right over the Elite2 and Elite 4 amplifiers nestled under plexiglass and rimmed with red LEDs, while the red air tank gets the same showcase treatment.
鈥淭here aren鈥檛 many aftermarket companies making specific parts for the Kia Optima, so many owners will tell you everything needs to be custom,鈥� Suravarapu explains. 鈥淚 had four months to build the car from stock to full custom before SEMA. If it wasn鈥檛 for the hard work of DTM Autobody, Kreative Audio & Tint, A Plus Custom Upholstery, and Freddy鈥檚 Garage, I wouldn鈥檛 have made it.鈥�
It鈥檚 all about who you know, and who Suravarapu knows is a lot of talented people that are committed to building great cars. The Optima鈥檚 custom-built journey won鈥檛 stop here either, as Suravarapu has told us that a widebody that鈥檚 the first of its kind is on the way from Canada鈥檚 Fortune Flares before attending 2018鈥檚 SEMA. This Optima may be optimal as it sits, but the amount of broken necks and 鈥渨ait, that鈥檚 a Kia?鈥� are set to go way up.
Photography by Paul Delapena
ESSENTIALS
Vehicle: 2013 Kia Optima
Owner: Sunny Suravarapu
Location: Azusa, CA
Built by: Freddy鈥檚 Garage, DTM Autobody, Kreative Audio & Tint, A Plus Upholstery
Engine: Kia Theta II GDI 2.0L turbocharged I-4
ENGINE
- 845 Motorsports (modified stock turbo, intercooler, intercooler piping)
- Anodized Industries gold anodized (intercooler piping, front-mount intercooler)
- Hose Techniques hoses
- Hose Candy (radiator hose, carbon fiber hose skin kit)
- HKS SSQV blow-off valve
- AEM (methanol injection, air filter)
- Deatschwerks 400cc fuel injectors
- NGK Racing spark plugs
- Innovated Mounts (engine mounts, transmission mounts)
- NRG (dress-up bolts, oil catch can)
- Sick Speed (oil cap, radiator cap, 24k dress-up bolts)
- Phase 2 Motortrend hose clamps
- Slickcarbon carbon fiber (engine cover, radiator cover)
- Bytetronik ECU tuner
- Concept 3 custom tune
- AMSOIL fluids
EXHAUST
- ARK Performance (exhaust system, titanium exhaust tips)
- 845 Motorsports (down-pipe, catalytic converter)
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
- Rennen International MV-55 wheels 鈥� 20x9 +42 (f), 20x10 +38 (r)
- Toyo Proxes 4 Plus tires 鈥� 225/35 R20 (f), 245/35 R20 (r)
- Sick Speed lug nuts
- D2 Racing big brake kit 鈥� 8-piston calipers, 356-mm 2-piece drilled rotors (f), 4-piston calipers, 330-mm 2-piece drilled rotors (r)
- EBC Redstuff brake pads
- Stainless steel braided brake lines
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
- D2 Racing air suspension
- Vera Air air management
- Ultra Racing (sway bars (f/r), strut bars (f/r)
- Whiteline urethane bushings
EXTERIOR
- BASF Rosso Scuderia Red 3-stage paintjob
- Ikon Motorsports (front bumper front lip, side skirts, side skirt extensions, rear bumper)
- Concept 3 carbon fiber (diffuser, A-pillar)
- Seibon carbon fiber (vented hood, trunk, trunk spoiler)
- B&I carbon fiber window pillars
- NRG carbon fiber license plate frames
- SoCal Garage Works carbon fiber (fender inserts, grille, side mirror covers)
- Living Light Custom 鈥渁ngel eye鈥� headlights
- Kia KDM (blacked out front turn signals, rear turn signals)
- Metra LED lighting (underbody, engine)
- Meguiar鈥檚 car care
INTERIOR
- A Plus Upholstery (headliner, door inserts, sun visors)
- Katzkin customized leather seat covers (diamond stitch)
- New Faces shift knob
- Slickcarbon modified stock steering wheel (carbon fiber top, leather reupholstered)
- AEM gauges (boost, AFR)
- B&I carbon fiber gauge trim
- Manicci floor mats
- Kia KDM (gold pedals, center console)
- Metra LED interior lighting
MOBILE ELECTRONICS
- Phoenix Gold (Elite2 2-channel amplifier, Elite2 12-inch subwoofers (2), TI65CS component speakers, Elite4 4-channel amplifier)
- Custom sealed enclosure
- Stinger (SPV20 battery, fuse holder, wiring, distribution blocks, capacitor)
- Optima Yellowtop D35 batteries (2)
- Rosen (DVD player, rear monitors)
- Whistler radar detector
SPONSORS
- Meguiar鈥檚, AMSOIL, NRG Innovations, 845 Motorsports, AEM, AAMP, ARK Performance, A Plus Upholstery, BASF, Concept 3, B&I, D2 Racing, Deatschwerks, DTM Autobody, NGK, Freddy鈥檚 Garage, Hose Techniques, Fox Marketing, Katzkin, Kreative Audio & Tint, Metra Electronics, Optima Battery, Phoenix Gold, Ikon Motorsports, Rennen International, Seibon Carbon, Stinger Electronics, Thermo Tec, Ultra Racing, Phase 2, Motortrend, Innovative Mounts, Living Light Custom, Graphic Spyder, PIAA
PHOTO GALLERY
Related Articles
PAS365 Podcast: SEMA 2024 Live - Part 2
Kurenai: Jason 香蕉视频直播ick's Show-Stopping 2015 Scion FR-S
Powered by a Subaru EJ25 Engine Swap: Austin Barnett鈥檚 1976 Porsche 911
Craziest Skyline at SEMA in Years: Devin Mariannino Driver Motorsports' 1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R
OMG Miata: Dione Mascunana's 1994 Mazda Miata
A Phoenix Risen: Luke Skalisius' 2004 Subaru WRX STi