The Munich Motor Show is inching closer and Kia will use the event to introduce a plug-in hybrid Sportage. The automaker is keeping details under wraps, but said the model will “attract people looking to make the move to electric while enjoying the practicality and presence of the new urban SUV.”
Putting the marketing aside, the Sportage PHEV will have a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a 13.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and an electric motor that develops 90 hp. The company didn’t say much else about the model, but the automaker has previously confirmed the plug-in hybrid variant will have an “E-Handling system” that further enhances performance, agility and stability during cornering.
While a lot of questions remain, Kia’s focus in Munich will be eco-friendly vehicles as the Sportage PHEV will be joined by the new EV6. In the UK, the model will be offered exclusively with a 77.4 kWh battery pack and 800V technology. The latter enables the car to go from a 10 to 80 percent charge in as little as 18 minutes.
A variety of powertrains will be available including a rear-wheel drive variant with 226 hp and a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant with 321 hp. They’ll eventually be joined by the range-topping EV6 GT, which has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that develops 577 hp and allows the model to rocket from 0-96 km/h in 3.5 seconds.
