Kia considering Optima hybrid

When Kia's new Optima arrives in Australia late in the year, it will herald the arrival of the company's most potent performance model yet, but for those looking to recycle tyres, not burn them, all is not lost.

The Optima is currently only available with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine worth 148kW but when Kia brings the new-generation vehicle here late in 2015 it will add a beefier 200kW-plus locally-tuned turbocharged hero model.

But Kia Australia is also looking very closely at the new Optima hybrid, the technology in which is expected to be based on the Optima T-Hybrid concept previewed at the 2014 Paris motor show.

The concept is a little different from traditional hybrids in that it makes use of a small 1.7-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that employs 'twin charging' – a turbocharger and supercharger – to ensure ample response at low engine speeds.

An electric motor is lumped on top that can drive the vehicle without help from the combustion engine for short distances, thus reducing CO2 output and fuel usage.

The major hurdle Kia Australia faces is the cost of the hybrid; it won't be cheap. At present the Optima is priced between $31,500 and $41,000 and a hybrid could escalate that to around $50,000.

Would a new technology-leader – and its first hybrid – be viable for Kia Australia in a market where the Toyota Camry Hybrid starts at $35,490?

"We are studying it at the moment. It's a hard one though," said Kia Motors Australia CEO Damien Meredith.

The Kia Australia boss said more study was needed on the upcoming Optima hybrid, the current generation of which was never been sold in Australia because it was deemed too expensive. Check out our review of the 2013 Optima Hybrid for more details.

Nonetheless he conceded a technology-leading product wouldn't hurt the brand and Kia's demographic is very interested in low-emission hybrids – an arena Ford will enter with its Mondeo hybrid.

"We saw a survey the recently that said 65 per cent of Kia owners support hybrid technology," said Meredith.

"It's a surprising figure, so we have to think very seriously about that [Optima hybrid] as a stepping stone."

"I was always a great believer in fuel cell technology, it's the way of the future. So it's hybrid, plug-in hybrid, then probably fuel cell. That's my view," stated Meredith.

"And I think you've got to earn your credentials. So if we see an opportunities and it looks like it'll help the brand, we'll look at it."

At next week's Geneva show,
Kia will reveal the SPORTSPACE concept (pictured), previewing the new Optima sedan to appear in New York in April, and the first Optima wagon, which Kia Oz is also keen on.