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Now, attracting buyers to a new nameplate is hard, particularly if you don't have a face that people associate with your name. Italian design is a good place to start, and though past Italian-Korean tie-ups have culminated in mixed results, the Optra seems to redeem all that. For one, the Optra looks pleasant and well-proportioned. It's within a shave of today's benchmark, the Toyota Corolla, in all dimensions, being 30 mm shorter, 25 mm wider and with an identical wheelbase. It departs from the current trend towards tall roofs, overall height being 55 mm lower than the tall-boy Altis. And that's good for the looks, if not for top-hat wearing passengers. While I was waiting on a stretch of highway, one bystander even approached and pronounced the car beautiful. I may not wholeheartedly agree, but at least I didn’t think him a loon. From the rear, from which the aforementioned pedestrian approached, it is at the very least distinctive and attractive. The quasi-hatchback roofline meets a high, square-cut trunk, flanked by trapezoidal taillights with circular lamps. The 15-inch wheels with 195/55 tires lend a bit of sportiness to the package. The denim blue color of our test car would not be my first choice, but it suits the styling well. Tasteful, restrained and bordering on elegant: not a bad design to begin associating with your brand. |
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