FRANKFURT: Kia Europe has revealed the first official sketches of the all-new European-market Sportage. For the first time in its history, Kia is launching a dedicated Sportage designed specifically for European customers in what is the fifth generation of the brand’s most popular SUV.
It would be launched online at 10am BST (5pm in Malaysia) Sept 1 on Kia-owned channels. Sales start later this year.
The advanced exterior and interior design pushes styling boundaries, setting the tone for the next-generation Sportage line-up.
Kia said the SUV would have state-of-the-art connectivity tech, responsive and efficient advanced powertrains and the latest passive, active and ADAS safety innovations.
Built on a new architecture, the Sportage is said to offer improved drive and handling characteristics for European roads.
Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – is at the heart of the Sportage, influencing every aspect of its appearance and character.
According to Kia, the sketches revealed today hint at a "sporty, assertive and pioneering SUV".
The Sportage will feature a more compact and adventurous profile hinting at heightened levels of agility and performance seen as ideal for European roads. Designed to be the most dynamic and stylish SUV in its segment, the Sportage will feature a muscular stance and a strong yet refined silhouette with crisp, taut character lines that ripple across the surfaces.
The sketches hint at a bold front-end design with a detail-orientated black grille graphic spanning the width of the face. A fresh interpretation of Kia’s iconic floating signature Tiger Nose grille combines with boomerang-shaped LED DRLs (daytime running lamps) and matrix LED headlamps.
Representing another first for the Sportage range, the sketches show a black roof that helps to further accentuate the sporting profile of the all-new SUV, while also highlighting a dynamic C-pillar design treatment.
At the rear, powerful and broad shoulder lines meet slim rear LED combi lamps flanked by the new Kia logo. A unique black rear bumper design emphasises the Sportage’s sporty, youthful character.
