Ending several months of spy shots and close ups of prototype models, Kia today officially lifted the covers off the facelifted Sorento crossover that will be sold in the U.S as a 2014 model.
The mid-cycle refresh brings a host of improvements that include styling and equipment upgrades as well as what Kia is describing as a “re-engineered bodyshell” and “a new chassis”.
The exterior changes are concentrated on the two ends with Kia’s designers having created new headlamps with LED positioning lights, a re-styled tailgate with LED taillights, and re-sculptured front and rear bumpers with vertical-axis fog lights, plus a new selection alloy wheel designs up to 19-inches in size.
We don’t get any pictures of the interior yet but the Korean carmaker noted that there are more soft-touch plastics, a new LCD instrument cluster, a revised center stack with a 7-inch screen, a larger panoramic sunroof (on certain trim levels) and a new lower console featuring a straight-gate selector with a leather-booted lever on automatic transmission models.
Kia is being secretive about what exactly has changed under the skin simply telling us that there are enhanced powertrains with better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions and that the upgraded chassis provides an improved ride, handling and more refinement.
“We have given very careful attention to owners’ feedback, and the upgraded Sorento is not just a cosmetic exercise but a major step forward for our popular SUV,” said Kia’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Oh.
The updated Sorento will likely make its world premiere in Paris this September before it begins arriving in markets around the world later in the fall.
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