SPY PICS: Kia Optima wagon caught testing

Lurking beneath all the black fabric in these spy photos is the work-in-progress Kia Optima estate/wagon that should be making its debut – in various markets other than Australia – some time in 2016.

It's being touted as the biggest wagon the company has yet built and owes much of its inspiration to the Sportspace concept car featured on the Kia stand at the Geneva motor show early in 2015.

A bit of imagination is required to strip away the outrageous cladding at the rear end, but it's clear the Optima wagon will feature the sleek, flowing style that has become a brand signature since styling guru Peter Schreyer took the reins at Hyundai/Kia in 2006.

Based on the new generation Optima sedan introduced to Australia in November, the new Kia will feature a sports wagon rear end with a tapering roofline and a continuation of the sedan's slim side windows through to the D-pillar.

In markets where the Optima wagon will be available, it is expected the initial version will be supplemented in short order with a four-door sedan , a plug-in hybrid and a high-performance derivative with a 186kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. As well, a 104kW turbo-diesel emitting a low 110g/km of CO2 and also used in the sedan version is expected to be on offer from launch. That engine is not yet on offer in Australia, which is restricted to 2.0-litre turbo and 2.4-litre atmo petrol engines.

It's expected the wagon's equipment will replicate that of the Optima sedan which, in GT form, offers safety features such as lane-departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot detection.

It's best though not to get too excited about the slinky Kia wagon: Local management has stated that it's unlikely to feature in the local line-up.

Kia senior product manager Jeff Shafer said recently "We're still investigating the Optima wagon; certainly the Sportspace has got great reaction, but wagons in Australia are a tough sell.