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.
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 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.
