Kia posts sketches of dramatic new Sportage for Europe
The new Sportage has already been shown, but Kia says it has designed a new variant specifically for European customers
After recently showing images of the global model, Kia has now unveiled sketches of the European version of its new best-selling SUV, the Sportage. This variant has been designed and developed specifically for the European customer.
Using the company’s latest design language called “opposites united”, the latest Sportage looks to take on a more curvacious appearance. The sketches include arching lines and rounded surfaces, each of which are highly accentuated and over-dramatised.
At the front end, there is a new intepretation of Kia’s tiger nose grille, which seems to be very close to the grille on the global model. It is underlined by two large air intakes and dissected on either side by narrow boomerang-shaped headlamps that slice back to finish above the enormous front wheels.
The side profile is defined by a strong shoulder line and hollowed-out door panels that result in protruding wheel arches and a chunky rear. There is also a dome-like glass roof, which extends to create a small hood over the back window. The rear includes the new Kia logo at the centre of the boot lid flanked by narrow C-shaped lights. A large bumper pushes up from the exhaust outlets and into the bottom of the boot door.
Although no interior sketches have been released, Kia says that the Sportage’s cabin will “push styling boundaries” with “state-of-the-art connectivity tech… and the very latest passive, active and ADAS safety innovations.”
We expect the theatrical character of the sketches to be toned down significantly for the production car. However, the images do illustrate an obvious desire to bring something fresh to the SUV segment. The European version of the Sportage is due to make its full debut on 1 September via a digital launch event. CDN will keep you posted.