Previews the future design of the next Kia Optima.
Kia has taken the wraps off a new shooting brake concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show - dubbed as the Sportspace. It is expected to be a precursor of the 2016 Kia Optima, and, being a shooting brake, it gives people an idea of what an estate version of the Optima could look like, given the popularity of the body style in European markets.
While it looks recognizable (hints of Kia's "tiger nose" grille), most of the design elements are new. The grille now integrates smoothly with the large headlamps to give it a sleek appeal, a large middle air intake flanked by small intakes on either side, complemented by the flaring arches, gives the concept a dynamic presence.
The Sportspace is 4,855 mm long, 1,870 mm wide, 1,425 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,840 mm. The car is parked on 20-inch alloy wheels.
The roofline flows smoothly towards the rear end, which features small outlets on either side, and large dual exhausts are housed in a sporty rear bumper.
The interior is a clear departure from Kia’s current styling. Similar to Porsche's design, the concept features a large floating dashboard that has a wide infotainment screen at the centre and the other replacing the conventional instrument cluster. Other notable features include sports seats, a rotary controller for the infotainment system, and an aircraft like gear-stick with chunky paddles behind the multifunction wheel.
The concept is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder (T-GDI) turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine developing 250 hp that is transfered to the front axle via an automatic gearbox.
The production spec of Kia Sportspace concept - confirmed to be the next Optima - will arrive either later this year or early next year.
Kia Sportspace Concept - Press Release
[Head to Slideshare if you can't see the press release above.]
