Kia has recently shown us some shots of its fifth-gen Sportage SUV, and now, some of its specifications have leaked ahead of launch. According to reports, the carmaker set up a private party meant to celebrate the coming of the 2022 Sportage model to the domestic market. Apparently, someone couldn’t keep a secret until July 20, 2021, the official launch date.
If the reports are true, buyers will get a choice between a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine rated at 180 PS and a hybrid powertrain good for 230 PS. It is also revealed that the car has a single dash glass panel that covers its 12.3-inch gauge cluster and same-sized infotainment screen. Responsible for the design is Karim Habib, ex-designer of BMW and Infiniti, who introduced Kia to a direction known as ‘Opposites United’. Overall, the car looks much like the recently debuted all-electric Kia EV6. In its X-Line trim, the SUV will come with special bumpers, protective trim and large roof rails.
The HVAC controls reside under the central display, and the gear selector is shaped like a knob. The new Kia Sportage comes based on the latest-gen Hyundai Tucson platform. As such, it will ship with petrol and diesel turbo-four engines, some of them accompanied by 48V starter-generators. A plug-in hybrid spec may get a battery rated at 13.8 kilowatt-hours, which should translate into 45 kilometers of electric range.
