Kia continues testing and fine-tuning the new generation Sportage ahead of its premiere that’s expected to take place in a few months.
A sister model to the Hyundai Tucson, the 2022 Sportage was recently caught at the Nurburgring doing the usual rounds, with a yellow sticker on the rear windscreen that hints at some form of electrification.
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It is believed that this prototype features a plug-in hybrid powertrain, more particularly the same set-up used in the latest Tucson. This means that we should expect a 1.6-liter petrol engine, a small electric motor and a 13.8 kWh battery pack, probably with all-wheel drive and a shift-by-wire gear selector. Like the Hyundai, the 2022 Sportage PHEV should be able to travel for 28 miles (45 km) on electricity.
The rest of the powertrain lineup should also be shared with the Tucson. In North America, where it will probably arrive for the 2023MY, it will include a 1.6-liter self-charging hybrid with all-wheel drive and a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated unit rated at 187 HP with front-wheel drive. Mild-hybrid options and a turbodiesel should round out the offering on the other side of the pond.
The new Sportage will look quite different than its predecessor. Our spy photographers have previously snapped the same prototype on and around the ‘Ring, and you can check the static shots here, after watching it in action at the German track.