Kia to grow new Optima range

When Kia's fourth-generation Optima sedan lobs next year, it will be just the first in a new family of mid-size models from the Korean brand, including hybrid, wagon and possibly coupe derivatives.

During the 2014 Paris motor show, a well-placed Kia source responded positively when talk turned to the possibility of an Optima wagon, which would echo sister brand Hyundai's i40 sedan and wagon line-up.

"What a good idea that would be. You going to Detroit [motor show] next year? Visit the stand at Detroit and check out what you see," said the Kia insider.

The source suggested that an Optima wagon is very much on the horizon for the brand and would help grow the brand in Europe, where in some countries wagons sell in similar numbers to their sedan counterparts.

"I've seen a sketch of it. It would be logical to expand that car in the model range," said the well-placed Kia source.

Kia is also toying with the idea of an Optima coupe, although a two-door body style, which would follow the all-new Optima wagon if it reaches production.

In terms of how the new-generation Optima 'face' will look, don't expect a radical departure, warns Chief Design Officer for Kia and Hyundai, Peter Schreyer.

"The Optima is [already] a very strong car, and so with the next Optima I think we should be kind of careful and true to what we have done and not disappoint the customer with something completely different so they say 'what have they done now?"

"The question is should we always make such big steps?" he quizzed.

Expected to make an entrance in 2015 at the Detroit motor show, the all-new fourth-generation Optima will herald more than just a new look.

The twin-charged diesel hybrid powertrain presented in the Optima T-Hybrid show car at today's Paris motor show is a production-ready powertrain and several Kia executives suggested it would be offered in the new car.

Furthermore, motoring.com.au understands Kia Australia is interested in offering Optima hybrids here, which would include petrol and diesel models.

There's also a talk that turbo-petrol Optimas may finally be offered in right-hand drive.

Currently only one powertrain is offered in Australian Optimas — a naturally-aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine offering 148kW/250Nm.

Offered only in left-hand drive markets, the high-output 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine bangs out a more convincing 204kW/370Nm while consuming around 7.0L/100km.

The Optima is not a big money-spinner for Kia in Australia, where it is the car-maker's flagship sedan, with average monthly sales of around 100 vehicles.

By way of comparison, Kia's Rio light-car has found more than six times as many buyers some months this year.

However, with a new look, new powertrains and an all-new wagon option, the next Optima will be a more formidable rival for volume-selling mid-sizers like the Toyota Camry and Mazda6.

Expect Kia's new Optima to arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2015.