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Kia reveals new Sportspace concept ahead of Geneva motor show
Date: 27 February 2015 | Author:
Kia has revealed a new Sportspace concept which could hint at what a new Optima estate would look like.
The new model will be shown at the Geneva motor show next week and if a production model were to go ahead, it would help Kia compete in the fleet market with an estate model. Kia has not officially confirmed an Optima estate for production.
Gregory Guillaume, chief designer at Kia Europe, said: "Kia does not have a wagon in this important segment of the European market, but I was determined that we would not simply create something that conformed to tradition.
"I always had this picture in my mind of creating a vehicle that I could have used to go for a weekend's skiing with friends before driving back for it to be displayed at the Geneva Salon."
Kia says the Sportspace does not confirm to traditional estate design, with a stronger and more muscular design informing it's sporty name.
The Sportspace concept is powered by a 250hp 2.0-litre T-GDI (turbocharged gasoline direction injection) engine which drives the front wheels. Kia has not confirmed efficiency figures for the engine fitted to the concept.
Kia was in the top 20 fleet manufacturers in the UK last year, placed in 13th position with 34,575 units registered with corporate customers, according to figures from the SMMT.
The brand was pushed down a position by Skoda last year due to the Czech brand's growth, but adding a new estate model and the addition of its new Sorento would likely see the Korean brand gain more fleet share this year
