GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: First Kia Optima wagon outed
All-new SPORTSPACE concept heralds new Optima sedan and wagon from KiaKia Motors Europe has released the first complete images of a ground-breaking new concept that will make its world debut at the Geneva motor show on March 3.
First seen in an official teaser image last week, the sleek SPORTSPACE show car is significant for a number of reasons.
Most importantly, it previews the look – both inside and out -- of Kia's fourth-generation Optima sedan, which will make its world debut at the New York show in April.
Hyundai's Euro-centric i40 is available in both sedan and wagon forms, but the Korean giant's all-new Sonata – with which the next Optima shares its platform – remains a sedan-only model.
Both the 2016 Kia Optima sedan and wagon are due on sale by the end of this year, when the twin-pronged model range will form Kia's best assault yet on established mid-sizers like the Mazda6.
Kia sells only around 100 Optimas a month in Australia, where it will follow new entries in the mainstream medium-car segment, including the new Subaru Liberty, facelifted Mazda6, new Hyundai Sonata, new Ford Mondeo, facelifted Toyota Camry and new Volkswagen Passat.
As we reported last October, when news of sedan, wagon and perhaps even coupe versions of the new Optima broke, Kia Motors Australia has expressed interest in both turbo-petrol and hybrid versions, which will be produced in right-hand drive configuration for the first time.
Currently only one powertrain is offered in Australian Optimas -- a naturally-aspirated 148kW/250Nm 2.4-litre petrol four.
Offered only in left-hand drive markets, the current Optima Turbo's higher-output 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine offers a more convincing 204kW/370Nm while consuming around 7.0L/100km.
North America's current Optima Hybrid, meantime, delivers about 130kW/320Nm by combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and lithium-polymer battery pack.
If the Optima T-Hybrid show car at last September's Paris show is any indication, the new Optima could also be offered with a state-of-the-art twin-charged diesel hybrid powertrain.
It's not clear which hybrid system will be offered in Australia's Optima but, either way, it seems Australia's next Optima will come with a broader range of body styles and powertrain options than Hyundai's new petrol and turbo-petrol Sonata.
Although Ford is expected to follow suit with a hybrid version of its upcoming Mondeo, the Optima Hybrid will be an ace up Kia's sleeve in its attempt to steal fleet sales from Toyota's all-conquering Camry, which will be replaced by a new imported model – most likely from Japan – after it ceased local production in 2017.
“We set out to design a car that is a totally new breed of grand tourer – one for active people who need reasonable cargo space on the weekend, but don’t want to compromise moving around in style, comfort and with an element of sportiness,” said Kia Motors Europe's chief designer Gregory Guillaume, who oversaw the SPORTSPACE's creation in the company's Frankfurt design studio.
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