Here’s a better, real-life look at Kia’s next-generation Sportage before it makes its formal world premiere at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September.
Kia gave us a first view of their new compact SUV with a trio of exterior studio shots on Thursday, but withheld pictures of the interior – you can, however, see it in our scoop shots here.
The silver 2016 (2017MY for North America) Sportage we nabbed on the streets of Rüsselsheim, Germany, seems to be a lower grade version without the display model’s fancy set of quad LEDs on both corners of the front bumper, the metal-satin finish under-guards and side sill trimmings, or the chunkier and lower profile wheels.
While the design of the SUV’s more rakish profile and rear end offer a sense of familiarity with the outgoing Sportage, overall, the new model looks more rounded with sharper details; and then there’s the completely new and, for many readers, divisive front end that is heavily inspired by last year’s KX-3 concept. It now separates the sleeker-looking headlights that bleed into the hood from the latest version of Kia’s trademark ‘Tiger Nose’ grille – kind of like how Porsche fashions its SUVs.
Kia said it will release details on the engine range at Frankfurt, but it’s no secret that the Sportage is related to the latest Hyundai Tucson, so we should see similar offerings on both sides of the Atlantic.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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