Kia’s European division has published the first official images of the new fourth-generation Sportage. The crossover is scheduled to greet the public for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show that will open its doors in a little over two weeks.
Up front, the Sportage gets a striking new design that breaks nearly all ties with Kia’s current design language. It features a low and wide rendition of the company’s Tiger Nose grille, tall, elongated headlights, and a sculpted hood. The bumper is accented by a set of four square-shaped LED daytime running lights on each end, a styling cue that brings the Sportage in line with the Euro-market Cee’d but that is also reminiscent of recent additions to the Porsche lineup.
The overall silhouette doesn’t change significantly, though it looks a little sportier thanks to a roof-mounted spoiler. Out back, Kia’s next crossover benefits from sharp LED tail lamps connected by an elegant strip of chrome trim and a creased hatch.
Interior pictures aren’t available, so we’ll have to wait until the beginning of the Frankfurt show to see what the new cockpit looks like.
Similarly, Kia has opted not to publish technical information, but it’s safe to assume that European buyers will be asked to choose from a few gasoline- and diesel-burning four-cylinder engines borrowed from the company’s parts bin. The oil-burner won’t make its way across the pond, and neither will the Euro-spec model’s six-speed manual transmission.
It’s important to note the Sportage that will be displayed on the Kia stand in Frankfurt will be a Euro-spec model. Set to arrive in time for the 2017 model year, the U.S.-spec Sportage will most likely be unveiled in November at the Los Angeles Motor Show. The two models will look nearly identical, but the version we’ll get on our shores will boast a few market-specific components inside, outside, and under the hood.
