Photo: CarPix
When the Kia Sportspace concept made its debut earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, everybody was full of praise, but also full of doubt.
Their reluctance proved partly justified, but also unfounded. The 2016 Kia Optima, the production model the concept was somehow previewing, was indeed toned down a little, but it also had a lot in common with the daring looks of the Sportspace.
The defining element of the concept’s front end was that sleek, narrow grille that continued with the shape of the headlights. The real Optima chose a slightly less aggressive theme, but only when compared to the Sportspace, because other than that, the designers went in a pretty bold direction.
This boded well with Kia’s statements that a sportier version of the sedan was going to be launched in the future, which now actually seems like a good idea. It’s very easy to imagine the new Optima’s design being put through the usual sporty treatment - more aggressive bumpers and sideskirts, larger wheels, splitters and spoilers, a rear air diffuser and double exhaust tips.
On the other hand, Kia also announced back in March that the new Optima would get a station wagon version that, in turn, was supposed to eventually get that sporty makeover as well. Somebody is spreading sporty pills all over the Kia headquarters, apparently.
The Optima Sportswagon captured in these spy shots is not that version. It also wears plenty of camouflage so that any idea of how its rear side will look remains a thing of the imagination.
Another big question mark is whether the new Optima Sportswagon is going to make it to the states, where sedan sales have been prevalent lately. If the Sportspace and the actual Optima are anything to go by, the North American market would be missing on a pretty promising station wagon.
Besides the new exterior design and the added space this body style comes with as standard, we should expect to get the same engines and transmission options as on the sedan. That means a 185 hp 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine, a 178 hp 1.6-liter turbo unit, and a 245 hp 2.0-liter turbo one on the gasoline front.
In Europe, the Optima also comes with a 136 hp 1.7-liter turbodiesel plant. There is also a hybrid version coming that’s just been launched in Korea this month.
There is no release date set yet, but you should expect it to hit the shops anytime now.
The defining element of the concept’s front end was that sleek, narrow grille that continued with the shape of the headlights. The real Optima chose a slightly less aggressive theme, but only when compared to the Sportspace, because other than that, the designers went in a pretty bold direction.
This boded well with Kia’s statements that a sportier version of the sedan was going to be launched in the future, which now actually seems like a good idea. It’s very easy to imagine the new Optima’s design being put through the usual sporty treatment - more aggressive bumpers and sideskirts, larger wheels, splitters and spoilers, a rear air diffuser and double exhaust tips.
On the other hand, Kia also announced back in March that the new Optima would get a station wagon version that, in turn, was supposed to eventually get that sporty makeover as well. Somebody is spreading sporty pills all over the Kia headquarters, apparently.
The Optima Sportswagon captured in these spy shots is not that version. It also wears plenty of camouflage so that any idea of how its rear side will look remains a thing of the imagination.
Another big question mark is whether the new Optima Sportswagon is going to make it to the states, where sedan sales have been prevalent lately. If the Sportspace and the actual Optima are anything to go by, the North American market would be missing on a pretty promising station wagon.
Besides the new exterior design and the added space this body style comes with as standard, we should expect to get the same engines and transmission options as on the sedan. That means a 185 hp 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine, a 178 hp 1.6-liter turbo unit, and a 245 hp 2.0-liter turbo one on the gasoline front.
In Europe, the Optima also comes with a 136 hp 1.7-liter turbodiesel plant. There is also a hybrid version coming that’s just been launched in Korea this month.
There is no release date set yet, but you should expect it to hit the shops anytime now.
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