The 18th Annual Aston Martin Auction took place at the old Factory and raised over £5 million.

The 18th annual Aston Martin Sale, held at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell and hosted by international auction house Bonhams, achieved over £5 Million last weekend.

One of the surprise stars of the show was a 1996 Aston Martin V8 Sportsman Estate Car, one of only three created, originally converted to its shooting brake format at Aston Martin Works. The rather unique and bespoke Aston Martin sold for an incredible £337,500.

Another highlight was a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which took £561,500, making it the top lot of the day. The iconic car drew many bids and eventually went to a telephone bidder who now owns a piece of automotive history. 

Other early ‘DB’ models proved popular: a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 ‘Series III’ 4.2-Litre Sports Saloon achieving £399,100 and a 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mark 2 Vantage Sports Saloon selling for £382,300.

The 2017 Aston Martin Sale also celebrated more modern cars. A 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante ‘X-Pack’ 7.0-Litre, achieved £387,900 after a long bidding exchange between two keen bidders whilst the 1997 Aston Martin Vantage V600 Coupé realised £253,500 and the 2000 Aston Martin Vantage Le Mans Coupé sold for £309,500.

Aston Martin President and CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: ““We are very proud of our heritage at Aston Martin so it is fascinating to hear about the histories of the cars that come up for sale at these auctions. Some of our cars have led extremely interesting lives.”

Tim Schofield, Head of Bonhams Motoring Department added: “Even in our 18th year at Aston Martin Works, we are seeing a continued interest and enthusiasm for our sale. Bonhams prides itself on the breadth of its offerings at auction, and despite its single-marque status, this sale is no different. With lots ranging from a barn-find projects to race-ready lightweight competition cars, this sale had something for all admirers of the Aston Martin and Lagonda marques. We look forward to continued success at our Festival of Speed sale on 30 June.”

New cars haven’t been built at Aston Martin Works since 2007 when production moved to Gaydon. Aston Martin Works devotes unrivalled skill and experience to preserving Aston Martin’s heritage but this year that is set to change. It was announced late last year that the iconic DB4 G.T. would be brought back to life by Aston Martin Works, making it the first Aston Martin to built at Newport Pagnell since 2007. Just 25 track-only continuation cars will be built.

Dacia launches an all new Stepway model based on the popular Logan MCV Estate.

• Following in the tracks of the Sandero, it is now the turn of the Logan MCV to join Dacia’s Stepway family.
• The new Logan MCV Stepway enhances its credentials as a thoroughly modern and generously-proportioned estate car with a distinctly rugged look.
• Playing to its major strength of practicality, the new Logan MCV Stepway carries over all the key qualities of the Logan MCV, from its impressively spacious interior space – including five proper seats – to a 573-litre boot, which is amongst the largest in any segment of the market.
• New limited-edition S.E. Summit versions for each member of the Stepway family and the Duster.
• The brand continues to grow and achieved record sales figures in 2016. In the 44 different markets in which Dacia is active, it sold 584,219 vehicles in total, representing a year-on-year increase of six per cent.

The Stepway family, one of Dacia’s biggest success stories, maintains its growing momentum with the addition of a fifth member to the Dacia range – the new Logan MCV Stepway – following the Sandero, Sandero Stepway, Duster and Logan MCV.

The new Logan MCV Stepway sports an undeniably muscular build, with an assertive personality that draws inspiration from the world of crossover styling, offering first class practicality and vast load space at an extremely competitive price.

The generously proportioned new Logan MCV Stepway carries over all the key qualities of the Logan MCV:

• Impressive interior space, with five proper seats
• A 573-litre boot – amongst the largest in any segment of the automotive market

On the design front, the new Logan MCV Stepway has a distinctly modern edge, including a new lighting signature, new interior updates, additional storage space and upgraded equipment specifications.

Distinctive styling

With its rugged good looks, eye-catching features and generous specification, the new Logan MCV Stepway is clearly a member of the Stepway family.

For easier ingress, its ground clearance has been increased to 174mm – 50mm more than that of the Logan MCV, while its high-up driving position ensures outstanding visibility.

At the front, the new Logan MCV Stepway sports a two-tone bumper as well as a satin-effect chrome skid plate, plus the fitment of fog lights. 

The model similarly incorporates Dacia’s new lighting signature unveiled at last year’s Paris Motor Show and which imbues it with a dynamic and thoroughly contemporary appearance, with headlights that now incorporate LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) in the form of four stacked rectangles. 

This modern design results in a visibly wider look for the front end of the new Logan MCV Stepway.

The front bumper has been modified to exude an elegant yet athletic stance. Like the other models in the Stepway line-up, the new Logan MCV Stepway’s grille mirrors the black elements of the two-tone bumper, with the chrome rectangles rounding off its distinctive style in much the same manner as the Duster. 

Meanwhile, seen from the side, the wheel arches and sills are accentuated by an exclusive trim that emphasises the model’s bold, powerful feel. 

The new Logan MCV Stepway also comes with Dark Metal door mirror housings and Stepway decals on the front doors, along with Dark Metal longitudinal roof bars which further emphasise the model’s estate car lines.

At the rear, the tail lights are picked out in black, while the new Logan MCV Stepway’s two-tone bumper and satin-effect chrome skid plate are characteristic cues of Dacia’s Stepway range.

The new Logan MCV Stepway comes in a choice of two colours at launch – namely the brand’s iconic Azurite Blue and Mink – combined with new, 16-inch Stepway Dark Metal Flexwheel wheels. This smart, economical and attractive system comprises a slotted wheel trim design that fits over a similarly slotted rim.

A modern interior with more features than ever before

Inside the cabin, the new Logan MCV Stepway enjoys a new, more status-enhancing ambience first introduced several months ago in the new Sandero. This can be seen in the satin-effect chrome door releases, while the centre console fascia and air vents are trimmed by similarly-coloured surrounds.

The new Logan MCV Stepway comes with Dacia’s new four-spoke steering wheel – complete with horn push in the centre – in the brand’s Soft Feel finish, making it highly durable, easy on the eye and pleasant to the touch. The steering wheel mounted-controls are now better integrated, resulting in a more user-friendly and comfortable driving experience. In the middle of the wheel, beneath the Dacia logo, the word ‘Stepway’ is picked out in blue.

The upholstery fabric selected for the new Logan MCV Stepway first appeared inside the new Sandero Stepway. These seats feature a 3D weave for a greater sensation of depth, enhanced by top-stitching. The overall effect is an even more dynamic design.

More extensively equipped for enhanced comfort

The new Logan MCV Stepway will be available in Laureate trim only, featuring MediaNav Evolution, rear parking sensors, air conditioning, DAB radio and Hill Start Assist (HSA). Leather upholstery, reverse parking camera and height adjustment package are also available.

The vehicle’s interior features have been conceived to take the strain out of everyday motoring. The door-mounted front and rear electric window switches fall more easily to hand than before. For enhanced comfort, drivers now benefit from a one-touch function and a retractable centre armrest incorporated into the seat. Last but not least, the model is fitted with one-touch direction indicators and a lit glove box.

In addition to the many stowage areas located conveniently throughout the cabin, rear passengers are pampered by a ceiling light and a 12V power supply to connect and charge portable devices.

The new Logan MCV Stepway will be available with a choice of engine and transmission options:

• Petrol: TCe 90 with Stop & Start (S&S) mated to a five-speed manual gearbox (combined cycle fuel consumption: 5.1 litres/100km / CO₂ emissions: 115g/km).
• Diesel: dCi 90 S&S coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox (combined cycle fuel consumption: 3.9 litres/100km / CO₂ emissions: 100g/km).

Dacia continues to break its own sales records

In 2016, in the 44 markets in which Dacia models are sold, the brand achieved sales of some 584,219 units, representing a year-on-year gain of six percent. This positive trend can be seen across all of the regions in which Dacia is active, with no fewer than 28 countries establishing either new market share or new sales records.

The brand’s share of the passenger car and LCV market expanded by 0.1 percentage points to 2.4 percent in Europe, by 0.2 percentage points to 7.9 percent in Eurasia and by 1.1 percentage points to 19.4 percent in the Maghreb region.

• In Europe, Dacia’s sales totalled 415,010 units – a new record and an increase of 10.8 per cent. The Sandero was ranked fourth in the B segment for retail customers, with the Duster second in the C segment for retail customers and the best-selling SUV in the same segment.
• In France, Dacia reported a 12.1 per cent rise in overall sales to 112,111 vehicles, setting a new record as more than 110,529 passenger cars were sold to retail customers. Sales of the Sandero climbed by 24.2 per cent to make it the number two model amongst retail customers in France, with Dacia the fourth-highest selling retail customer brand.
• In its other European markets, Dacia saw its sales increase by 10.4 per cent to 302,899 units. In Italy, the brand posted record sales of 52,272 units – a gain of 11.6 per cent. The brand was similarly successful in the UK, achieving sales of 26,562 (up 1.1 per cent) in a stable, business customer-oriented market. A new record was also established in Poland, as sales rose an impressive 29.3 per cent to 19,275 units.
• In Switzerland, too, the brand enjoyed excellent growth, gaining 0.7 percentage points of market share to attain a new high of 2.2 per cent. This represented Dacia’s best year to-date in the country as it increased its sales by 39.9 per cent to 7,824 units.
• In those Eurasian markets where it has a presence, Dacia has gained 0.2 percentage points to earn a market share of 7.9 per cent, with sales up by 5.8 per cent to a total of 90,926 units. The brand remains the market leader in both Romania and Bulgaria. In the former, Dacia sold 38,861 vehicles in 2016 to claim a 29.6 per cent share of the market. In Turkey, meanwhile, the brand broke new records in terms of both vehicle sales (47,529 units, up 6.3 per cent) and market share (4.8 per cent, up 0.2 percentage points).
• In the Maghreb, Dacia’s market share stands at 19.4 per cent with 66,165 sales in 2016 – an increase of 1.1 per cent. The brand is performing particularly well in Israel, where the first Dacia showroom opened its doors only two years ago and where 4,246 sales – a climb of 65 per cent – provided the brand with a 1.5 per cent share of the market. Dacia continues to lead the way, finally, in terms of vehicle sales in Morocco with a market share of 26.6 per cent, translating into 43,408 vehicle sales in 2016 (up 16.1 per cent).

Over the last 12 years, Dacia has sold more than four million vehicles. Today, the brand stands out as a major player in the automotive market thanks to its clear policy of manufacturing attractive models that provide real value for money for the equipment they pack.

Dacia’s models are built at four different factories on two continents, with plants in Pitesti (Romania), Tangier and Casablanca (Morocco), and Oran (Algeria). The company’s policy is to produce as close as possible to its markets in order to adapt to the different needs of its customers as closely as possible.

In its attractive product range, Dacia is a popular thanks to its active community of followers, with some 3.5 million fans across its various social networks.

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Skoda takes three and another three price point wins, not bad going !

• Kodiaq, Fabia Hatchback and Superb Estate all take category titles
• All-new Kodiaq wins Best Large SUV for 2017
• Fabia takes Small Car title for the third consecutive year
• Superb wins back-to-back Estate car honours
• Price Point wins for Citigo, Fabia Estate and Superb
• Judges praise value for money, design and practicality

ŠKODA has kicked off 2017 with another remarkable haul of titles at the annual What Car? Awards. The all-new Kodiaq, Fabia Hatchback and Superb Estate all won their categories at the ceremony widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the automotive world.

As in previous years, the event was attended by some of the biggest names in the industry. And, once again, it was ŠKODA that provided the biggest cheers of the night. The all-new Kodiaq headlined ŠKODA’s triple crown of awards, driving off with the coveted Best Large SUV 2017.

Commenting on the award, Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor, said: “We had high expectations for the Czech brand’s first large SUV, and the Kodiaq doesn’t disappoint. 

Our favourite model costs a little more than £28,000, and for that you get seven seats, four-wheel drive, a punchy 148bhp diesel engine and generous equipment levels. It’s simply a brilliant large SUV.”

Not to be outdone by the newest member of the ŠKODA family, the Fabia Hatchback continued its remarkable run of awards by clinching Best Small Car 2017. Crowned overall Car of the Year in 2015, the Fabia has retained its Best Small Car title for three years in a row – confirming it as one of the most complete superminis on the market.

“Over the past 12 months, we’ve seen plenty of new small cars come and go, but the Fabia still sits at the top of the pile.” said Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor. “The Fabia not only feels agile and easy to drive in town, but is also more comfortable and refined at motorway speeds than many larger cars.Its solidly built interior and impressive array of safety kit just set it further apart from rivals. Throw in its interior features and outstanding practicality, and it’s a clear winner.”

Completing ŠKODA’s collection of 2017 titles was the Superb Estate, which took top honours in the Estate Car category. Like the Fabia, the Superb retained its crown – comfortably seeing off stiff competition.

Explaining the judge’s decision, Steve Huntingford, What Car? Editor said: “ŠKODA really has taken a lead in this class; the Superb retains the crown it won last year, and the Fabia isn’t far behind it. Practicality, performance, space, comfort and affordability are king here, and no car mixes all these things as phenomenally well as the Superb.”

ŠKODA was also awarded three price point wins on the night, with the Citigo winning best City Car for £8,000-£10,000, Fabia Estate named best Estate Car for less than £18,000 and the Superb gaining an award for best Executive Car for under £25,000.

Kia launches it's first D-Segment Estate car, the Optima Sportswagon is well equipped and well priced.

• Kia's first D-segment estate car
• Design remains faithful to 2015 SPORTSPACE concept
• Minimum 552 litres of cargo space with 40:20:40 split rear seats
• One-touch folding rear seats luggage rails and Smart Power Tailgate add to practicality
• Powered by an efficient and refined 1.7-litre diesel engine
• Up to 64.2mpg fuel economy, with CO₂ emissions as low as 113g/km
• Available with a full range of advanced driver assistance systems
• Connectivity features include standard Android Auto or Apple CarPlay
• Priced from £22,295. On-sale 15 September 2016

A stylish and spacious large estate car, the Optima Sportswagon, joins the Kia range in the UK, priced from £22,295 on 15 September 2016. Kia's first ever D-segment estate car comes to the UK at the same time as a plug-in hybrid version of the Optima, giving the company two new opportunities to expand its business, especially in company fleets. In Europe, two-thirds of D-segment sales and 75 per cent of fleet sales in the class are taken by estate cars. 

The Optima Sportswagon was designed in Europe and will be sold only in Europe. Its stylish exterior remains faithful to the highly praised SPORTSPACE concept revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Style is not at the expense of practicality and versatility, however: the Optima Sportswagon has a minimum of 552 litres of cargo space, including two underfloor trays, and 1,686 litres with the rear seats folded. Stylish integrated roof rails are standard.

The Optima Sportswagon exudes the same exterior style and interior class as the saloon on which it is based – the two cars are identical in length (4,855mm) and width (1,860mm), but the Sportswagon is 5mm taller at 1,470mm because of the roof rails.

Like the Optima saloon, it is sold exclusively with a highly efficient, torquey and refined 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine. And it is available with a full suite of advanced connectivity and active driver assistance technologies, including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay (available later in the production run), Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom®, a harman/kardon eight-speaker audio system, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Smart Cruise Control and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

The Optima Sportswagon in the UK

There are three trim lines for the new Optima Sportswagon ­– 2, 3 and GT-Line S – echoing those available for the Optima saloon. A sporty high-performance GT version will make that four variants early in 2017.

Standard equipment also matches what is available on the corresponding saloon and is unashamedly targeted at business users who make up the vast majority of buyers in this sector of the market. There are, however, certain additions exclusive to the estate. Roof rails are standard with all three trim lines, along with a luggage area DC power socket, a handle for one-touch folding of the rear seats, a luggage side partition and towing connection preparation. Level 3 adds a luggage rail system, boot lip trim and privacy glass in the rear doors, rear quarterlights and tailgate. GT-Line S is further distinguished by a Smart Powered Tailgate.

The entry-level 2 grade comes as standard with a 7.0-inch satellite navigation system with European mapping and a reversing camera, steering wheel-mounted controls, front and rear USB ports, dual automatic air conditioning with ioniser, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshifter, cruise control with a speed limiter, electrically heated folding mirrors, a six-speaker DAB radio with MP3 compatibility and Bluetooth with music streaming. It has 17-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, dual projection headlights with static cornering lights and LED daytime running lights, powered two-way driver's seat lumbar adjustment and remote central locking with a fold-away key, while the comprehensive safety provisions include Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management, Hill-start Assist Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring and an Electronic Parking Brake.

Grade 3 upgrades the navigation screen to 8.0 inches, has an eight-way power-adjustable driver's memory seat with four-way electronic lumbar adjustment, heated front seats and dual projection headlights. The exterior is distinguished by 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome and body colour exterior door handles, LED front foglights and rear combination lamps and chrome-coloured side sill mouldings. The black cloth seats have faux leather sections and there are satin chrome highlights on the touch-screen bezel. Rear electric windows with an auto up/down function and an anti-trap safety feature are also found on grade 3 along with a premium vision instrument cluster, satin chrome interior door handles and gloss black window switch panels. A harman/kardon Premium Sound system is also standard, while if the optional 7DCT automatic transmission is chosen there are paddle shifters for manual control and a Drive Mode Select function. Additional driver aids on grade 3 include Lane Keep Assist and a Speed Limit Warning.

GT-Line S supplements all this with different design 18-inch alloy wheels, a wireless mobile phone charger, 360-degree Around View Monitor, a Smart Park Assist System, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Adaptive Smart Cruise Control, High Beam Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and a Smart Powered Tailgate. It has a tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, LED headlights with automatic levelling, dynamic cornering lights, black leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and heated outer rear seats, alloy pedals, stainless steel door scuff plates, a smart key with illuminated start/stop button, LED front map lights and rear reading lights and ambient interior lighting.

Style AND practicality in one package

Some estate cars provide lots of space but are boxy and square. Others have sharper, more rakish lines, but sacrifice practicality as a result. The Optima Sportswagon is the best of all worlds – a sleek, beautifully proportioned D-segment car in its own right, but one with a vast amount of practicality and versatility for the business drivers who will be its primary customers.    

Practicality was given parity with style throughout the design process. A wide tailgate and low lip make it easy to load heavy items, and the Smart Power Tailgate on GT-Line S opens automatically when the smart key comes into close proximity for more than three seconds. Integrated roof rails are standard across the range.

The 40:20:40 folding rear seats allow two people to travel in comfort while still leaving space for long loads. Grades 3 and GT-Line S have adjustable sliding luggage rails with built-in harnesses for securing cargo.       

All this has been achieved with only minimal alteration to the dimensions of the acclaimed Optima saloon. The footprint of the two cars is identical, but the Sportswagon is 5mm taller because of its sleek roof rails. The Optima Sportswagon has 552 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, including two underfloor storage boxes, and up to 1,686 litres with the 40:20:40 split rear seats folded.

The Optima Sportswagon is based on the SPORTSPACE concept which was one of the stars of the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, and has been modified only where legislation or practicality considerations demanded it. There are distinct treatments for grades 2/3 and the range-topping GT-Line S.

The front half of the Sportswagon, as far back as the B-pillar, is identical to the Optima saloon. From there, a rising shoulder line and more gently swept-back cabin with a raked rear window and tapering roof give the Sportswagon an elegant, sporty appearance. The rear lamps wrap around the corners and there is a single exhaust outlet.

The GT-Line S is distinguished by GT-Line bumpers and side sills, bespoke 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED front lamps with automatic levelling, dynamic cornering lights, LED rear combination lamps, a dual chrome-tipped exhaust system built into a rear diffuser, satin chrome and body-coloured exterior door handles and silver metallic-trimmed side sill mouldings.

A modern high-quality interior

The Optima Sportswagon has the same modern, horizontally structured dash layout as the saloon, and the same high-quality fit and finish. The centre console of the driver-focused fascia is angled at 8.5 degrees towards the person behind the wheel. The central 7.0- or 8.0-inch touch-screen is set at exactly the same height as the instruments in the main cluster to make it easier for the driver to absorb information quickly.

The fascia is divided into upper display and lower control zones, and the number of buttons and switches has been kept to a minimum because as many functions as possible are accessed via the touch-screen, simplifying use and giving the cabin a less cluttered look.

The interior is trimmed in black cloth, black cloth with faux leather or black leather, depending on model grade. A faux leather finish has been applied to the door and centre console armrests; black leather is standard on the gearlever and steering wheel; and the door switch panels, door handles and interior bezels are trimmed with either metallic paint or satin chrome.

The impressive quality is also apparent in the soft-touch materials, interior lighting – LED at the top of the range – and, on the road, greater refinement as a result of the extensive application of sound-proofing.

The seat frames, like those in the Optima saloon, are stiff and light, reducing the levels of vibration felt by occupants. For GT-Line S the black leather seat backrest and cushion areas are arranged into wide tubular sections for greater comfort, and the leg and torso bolsters are more pronounced than those in other grades. GT-Line S seats also feature red stitching, which is repeated on its D-shaped steering wheel. The range-topping model also has alloy pedals.

Fully connected with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

The Optima Sportswagon comes with a full suite of connectivity features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Android Auto connects the car to the user's smartphone and, via pre-downloaded apps, gives access to Google Maps navigation, Google Play music, hands-free calls and texts and voice recognition. Apple CarPlay, available later in the production run, will enable full Siri voice control of the phone's apps and functions while linking the car to Apple Maps, calls and text dictation, music streaming and audiobooks.   

At the heart of it all is the latest Kia audio-visual navigation (AVN) system, operated via either a 7.0- or 8.0-inch touch-screen and featuring Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone connectivity with audio streaming. The navigation screen is linked to a rear parking camera. The AVN system includes a DAB digital radio or, on grades 3 and GT-Line S, a 490-watt harman/kardon eight-speaker Premium Sound system with an external amplifier and sub-woofer and Clari-Fi technology to restore the sound usually lost when digital music files are heavily compressed.

There are USB charging points in the front and rear in every model, while the GT-Line S includes a wireless charger for topping up the batteries of smartphones.

The AVN system offers the full Kia Connected Services package powered by TomTom®. This provides live traffic updates, speed camera alerts and local point-of-interest and weather reports. It is provided free for seven years.

High-strength body and active safety technologies

Like the Optima saloon, which earned a five-star rating in Euro NCAP impact tests, the Sportswagon will provide exemplary passive and active safety thanks to its high-strength lightweight body, occupant restraint systems and advanced active driver assistance features.

Just over half of the body (51 per cent) is made of advanced high-strength steels, particularly to reinforce the A- and B-pillars, side sills, floor and front wheel arches. Special attention was given to the roof and C-pillars in the transition from saloon to estate. Six airbags are fitted as standard.

Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management are also standard. These can automatically counteract any loss of traction when cornering or setting off on surfaces with differing levels of grip from left to right.

Depending on model, the Optima Sportswagon is available with a series of features to supplement the driver's vision and control. They include Lane Keep Assist and a Speed Limit Autonomous Information function on grades 3 and GT-Line S, plus Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and High Beam Assist for the range-topping model. Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection brings the car to a halt at speeds of up to 50mph if the driver fails to react to a potential accident. Uniquely in class, this uses both short- and long-range radars to identify other vehicles and pedestrians over a wider range of speeds.

GT-Line S also has a 360-degree Around View Monitor which, through four strategically mounted cameras, gives the driver a bird's-eye view of the car when manoeuvring, plus a Smart Park Assist System which automatically steers the car into parallel or perpendicular parking slots while the driver works the accelerator and brakes. There is a reversing camera and audible front and rear parking sensors in every model.

Powertrain

The Optima Sportswagon is powered exclusively by Kia’s 1.7- CRDi turbodiesel engine, which develops 139bhp and 340Nm of torque. It delivers outstanding performance for an engine of this capacity with effortless driveability.

The engine was engineered at Kia’s European research and development centre in Germany and features high-pressure common-rail fuel injection for maximum efficiency and a variable geometry turbocharger to enhance low-speed driveability while ensuring strong top-end power.

With Kia's Idle Stop & Go (ISG) engine stop/start system as standard, CO₂ emissions of manual models are 113g/km, only 3g/km more than the saloon, while fuel economy is a highly impressive 64.2mpg. With the 7DCT dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is available in grades 3 (optional) and GT-Line S (standard), emissions are 120g/km, while fuel economy is 61.4mpg.

The manual has a 0-60mph acceleration time of 9.8 seconds, while with the 7DCT 0-60mph takes 10.7 seconds. With either transmission the top speed is 124mph.

The 7DCT versions have Drive Mode Select featuring three options – Normal, Eco and Sport – which alter the transmission shift timing, throttle mapping and steering wheel weighting accordingly. Steering wheel-mounted paddles allow the driver to take manual control of gearshifting at any stage.  

Bespoke suspension settings

The Optima Sportswagon is a spacious, versatile estate car – but that doesn't mean it cannot be fun to drive. A stiff body structure, all-round independent suspension, crisp steering and powerful brakes combine to give sharp, sporty driving characteristics with supreme long-distance comfort and refinement, aided by extensive measures to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

The Optima Sportswagon has the same fully independent suspension at all four corners as the saloon, with subframe-mounted MacPherson struts, coil springs and twin-tube gas-filled dampers at the front and a subframe-mounted multi-link system with coil springs and twin-tube gas-filled dampers at the rear. There are front and rear anti-roll bars. As a result, it delivers the same agile handling, smooth ride and high-speed stability as the saloon with which it shares its wheelbase and track widths. However, the spring and damper rates and alignment settings have been fine-tuned to take into account the Sportswagon's slightly more rear-biased weight distribution, and the fact that it is likely to be carrying heavier loads. 

Like the saloon, the Sportswagon features Kia's rack-mounted motor-driven power assisted steering system (R-MDPS). By mounting the power steering function directly on the rack rather than the column, the engineers have been able to give the car quicker and more linear responses to driver inputs, particularly around the straight-ahead, with greater feel. The Optima Sportswagon is one of the most agile estate cars in its market segment. As an added benefit, R-MDPS gives approximately three per cent fuel savings because it draws on engine power only when the car is turning.

There are large disc brakes on all four wheels, ventilated at the front, with anti-lock (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, giving the car powerful emergency stopping power, regardless of the force applied to the pedal by the driver. The Optima Sportswagon also comes with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), which maintains brake pressure for two seconds after the driver releases the pedal to ensure smooth transitions when setting off on inclines.

Market, warranty and after-care

In keeping with every Kia, the Optima Sportswagon comes with the company’s unique-in-the-UK seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, subject to certain wear and tear conditions. The warranty is fully transferable should the car be sold before the time or mileage limits have been reached. Should the car be sold through a Kia Used Approved dealership and the car is less than 18 months old or has fewer than 18,000 miles on the clock, it is topped up to match that of a new model.

For retail customers the Optima Sportswagon is available with Kia’s Care-3 and Care-3 Plus servicing packages, offering fixed-cost, inflation-proof servicing for the first three or five years. All packages cover the car, not the owner, so are transferable should the vehicle be sold.

UK Optima Sportswagon line-up

Model	Power bhp	Torque Nm	0–60 sec	Max speed mph	Average mpg	C02 g/km
1.7 CRDi ‘2’	139	340	9.8	124	64.2	113
1.7 CRDi ‘3’	139	340	9.8	124	64.2	113
1.7 CRDi ‘3’ 7DCT	139	340	10.7	124	61.4	120
1.7 CRDi ‘GT-Line S’ 7DCT	139	340	10.7	124	61.4	120

Pricing

Model	Price
1.7 CRDi ‘2’	£22,295
1.7 CRDi ‘3’	£24,495
1.7 CRDi ‘3’ 7DCT	£25,895
1.7 CRDi ‘GT-Line S’ 7DCT	£30,595