Geneva Motor Show: 2011 Kia Sportage
By Andrew C., 30 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
2011 Kia Sportage
Kia's new generation Sportage SUV is unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The SUV boasts new dimensions and a design cue inspired by the 2007 Kia Kue concept. Aside from a refreshed engine range, the new Sportage also features more European-like lines, which was designed under the guidance of former Audi designer Peter Schreyer. The car's lines are certainly sleeker. It's likely that the increased size will heighten the appeal for American consumers. The new SUV is built on the same platform as the Hyundai ix35, thus being bigger than the previous generation.
Engines that are being offered range from a 2.0l to 2.4l four cylinder units, all mated to a six-speed transmission. Kia has yet to provide complete details of this new Sportage but it appears that for the European market, the Sportage will get the same 1.7l and 2.0l diesel, as well as the 1.6l and 2.0l gasoline units as the iX35.
In a release, Kia said that with more than 910,000 units sold globally since the revamped version of the original Sportage went on sale in August 2004, it's highly likely that this third generation model will continue the momentum led by its recently launched products. "The new Kia Sportage has been designed to score a 5-Star rating in Euro NCAP's crash tests and maximum scores in the USA's two crash test programmes. The all-new platform and bodyshell employs a much greater proportion high strength and extra-high strength steels than the previous model."
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