Back in the heyday of the station wagon, it was hard to imagine that these utilitarian vehicles could ever be cool. Yet in the age of the crossover SUV, car fans with stuff to haul are flocking to the good ‘ole wagon.
Set to debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show next month, the Kia Sportspace concept should satisfy everyone’s wagon fixation. It also previews an upcoming redesign of the Optima.
While the production Optima will probably remain a four-door sedan, it will at least borrow the concept’s styling.
That styling seems to be an evolved version of the already-pleasing language used on current Kias. The brand’s “tiger grille” is more upright for a bolder appearance, while the headlights and windshield are swept back to keep things sleek.
The interior is much sportier than you’d expect from a Kia, with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, heavily-bolstered seats, and an absurdly tall central tunnel for what is almost certainly a front-wheel drive car.
The Sportspace also has a digital display screen in place of a traditional gauge cluster, plus a second screen affixed to the dashboard, presumably for the passenger.
Kia isn’t talking powertrain details, but expect the next production Optima to come with an all-four-cylinder engine lineup like the current model, with a turbocharged version as the sportiest option.
The Optima Hybrid will also return with the updated powertrain and plug-in option from the mechanically-identical 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid.
Check back for more details on the Kia Sportspace concept when the 2015 Geneva Motor Show opens March 3, and look for the production version not too long after that.
