This Prototype Could Be Kia’s Most Impressive Secret So Far | Carscoops

      A more practical version of the K4 sedan and hatch features a sloping roofline and an angled rear window.

      Kia has been observed testing a wagon variant of its new K4 in Europe.

      This ICE-powered estate retains the C-pillar door handles from the K4 sedan.

      Fang-shaped rear lights can be seen peeking through the car's disguise.

      Kia’s K4, designed to replace the Forte in North America, has been very well received, becoming the brand’s best-selling model in January in the US and only surpassed by the Sportage in April. Both the sedan and hatch are stylish and affordable, but Kia plans to introduce a more practical variant in select markets soon.

      Recent spy photos from Europe show a prototype K4 wagon undergoing tests, dressed in the typical black cover that Kia prefers for its vehicles, rather than the patterned full-body camouflages used by other brands.

      Foam blocks placed under the disguise are intended to obscure the actual shape of the new rear body, yet they cannot conceal the sporty sloping roofline or the angle of the rear window. These features suggest that the wagon will prioritize style even while being capable of accommodating more luggage than other K4 variants.

      The rear door handles are positioned in the upper frame next to the C-pillar, just like in the sedan and hatch, and the same soccer goal-shaped LED lighting layout, featuring two vertical fangs and a horizontal strip connecting them at the top, is visible behind the camouflage at the rear.

      It remains uncertain whether the wagon will be available in the US, but it seems unlikely. However, it will definitely be available in Europe, where the K4 hatch will take the place of the Golf-sized Ceed, and estate models like the Ceed Sportswagon continue to have a small but dedicated following.

      Electric powertrains will not be offered for this model—this is reserved for the upcoming EV4—so buyers can expect a selection of four-cylinder turbocharged engines. US K4s are available with a choice of a 147 hp (150 PS) naturally aspirated 2.0 and a 187 hp (190 PS) turbocharged 2.0 engine, while the Euro models will likely feature 1.6-liter mild and potentially plug-in hybrids when they launch later this year.

      Credits: SHProshots