New Kia Optima renders betray curves, Sportspace look

In a span of a decade, Korean car maker Kia went from almost a nobody to someone that people took notice of. That success is attributed in no small part to the Optima, which has become Kia's poster boy since then. But the first Optima is five years old and long overdue a refresh. Given it's importance of the name, Kia undoubtedly feels pressured to replicate that success in the successor as well. With these pair of renders of the new Optima, however, Kia might have very little to worry about.

Of course, these are just renders that may or may not be an accurate reflection of the final product, but it at least hints at the direction that Kia will be taking the next Optima. And it's a very interesting direction at that. Compared to the current model, the new Optima will sport less lines and more curves, giving it a more modern, almost futuristic appeal.

In fact, the new Optima seems to borrow the design language of Kia's Sportspace concept car which it unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show early this month. The squinting headlights and sloping roofline share in the Sportspace's design. That said, there will, of course be some differences. A trunk, for example, is present where the Sportspace has none. The alloy wheels look a lot larger here as well, though they might match the Sportspace own 20-inch ones near production time.

That said, little else is known about the upcoming Optima, especially inside, both inside the hood and inside the driver's seat. A hybrid engine has been suggested and Kia Motors Europe CEO Michael Cole has hinted at a performance car. It won't be surprising to see a good amount of technology on the dashboard, though Kia hasn't expressed yet which infotainment platform it is rooting for.

Just as the first Optima was unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in 2010, the new Kia Optima will likewise make its public debut at the same New York even this coming April.

VIA: Top Gear