Kia’s current Optima was all-new for the 2011
model year so we’re about due for a replacement. That replacement will be
introduced later this year as a 2016 model, but we’ll get our first look at the
car at next month’s 2015 Geneva Motor Show in the form of this thinly-veiled
concept version, dubbed the Sportspace.
The
Sportspace concept hints at only evolutionary styling for the new Optima, which will be the
nameplate’s fourth generation. The car will once again be closely linked with
the Sonata from sister brand Hyundai, meaning we’re likely to see the new Optima pick up most of the
upgrades offered on the latest version of the Sonata—including hybrid and new
plug-in hybrid powertrains based around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
Regular
models will still be on offer and should stick with the current Optima’s naturally-aspirated
2.4-liter engine as well as its turbocharged 2.0-liter mill. A six-speed
automatic transmission is expected across the range. Kia is also thought to be
working on a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain for the new Optima but this is
expected to be sold in Europe only.
Another
option for the Optima
we’re likely to miss out on here in the U.S. is a new wagon bodystyle, which
the Sportspace directly previews. Kia says the concept
has been created "as a spacious and versatile accessory to an active
lifestyle, as a purposeful, energetic design study for the style-conscious, and
as a sanctuary from the stresses of the modern world."
Inside,
the Sportspace only features seating for four, with the center seat in the rear
taken up by a center column that runs the length of the cabin. While this
feature is unlikely to make it to production, some elements from the Sportspace
that we’re likely to see on the new Optima include its touchscreen
display, panoramic sunroof and leather trim. 
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