Kia's Geneva concept reveals next-gen Optima saloon

Kia has pulled the wraps off a new concept car that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The D-segment family car provides a taster for the new Optima range debuting in late 2015 - only this time the firm will offer an estate variant and even a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The Korean firm only introduced its first generation Optima back in 2012, so an entirely new platform is unlikely. But we do know from this image and our preview of the production saloon last year that this is more than just a light facelift, with a significantly altered design, a new and more upmarket interior and powertrain changes.

There is also expected to be a load-lugging Optima variant to compete with the new Ford Mondeo Estate, and judging by the teaser image where the car is parked to cover up the rear-end, we predict that's one of the cars the firm plans to show at Geneva.

Kia confirmed to us last year that the Optima will get a reworked version of the current 1.7 CRDi diesel engine at launch. We don't know if the firm plans to introduce petrol engines to the range, but it is fairly unlikely. What we do know is that a plug-in hybrid model is under development, and Kia is promising a class-leading electric-only range.

We'll have more details of the Optima when we get to see it in full at Geneva next month.

For full details of what's going to be at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, click here.