2016 Kia Optima teased ahead of New York Auto Show reveal

2016 Kia Optima teaser sketch

Debuts April 1

Kia has released a couple of teaser design sketches
depicting the next generation Optima mid-size sedan.

Previewed by the stunning

SPORTSPACE
concept

, Kia's new Optima shows some great potential in these official
sketches, but obviously the real deal won't be as dramatic as this taking into
account previous

spy
shots

have shown an evolutionary design. It won't get the low roofline and
pronounced wheel arches, but nevertheless it should still be an interesting
alternative to the Volkswagen Passat, Ford Mondeo and Skoda Superb.

The fourth generation Kia Optima has been "passionately
designed and obsessively crafted" and will likely grow in size a little
bit judging by the slightly longer rear doors of the prototypes. It will probably spawn a wagon version as seen in the aforementioned SPORTSPACE, but that will come out in about a year or two.

Chances are Kia is also cooking up a hybrid version with a diesel
engine working together with an electric motor, as seen in the

Optima
T-Hybrid

while the regular model will likely get an evolution of the
1.7-liter CRDi diesel in Europe. The US-spec model should use just about the
same engines as the Sonata, including 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbocharged motors
and a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine.

Kia has announced the 2016 Optima will premiere
on April 1 at the New York Auto Show.