Today we can share with you exclusively the first spy pictures of the next-gen Kia Sportage, ready to be launched in 2016. Kia’s succesful mid-size SUV was spotted for the first time and in final form at Hyundai-Kia Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
[ads id=”4″ style=”float:left;padding:9px;”]Since launched in 2010, the third generation Kia Sportage (also called Sportage R in South Korea) was a total hit for Kia. With an amazing design, the Sportage surprised everyone and increased Kia brand image around the world. For Kia, improve Sportages design will be a very difficult task, without becoming a bit bored.
Looking at the pictures, we can see that Kia wants to keep Sportage’s style on the next generation model, imrpoving the design following the latest Kia design way. We can saw a higher front headlights and bigger front grille, could be inspired by the KX3, Kia’s latest mini-SUV for China. New LED taillights finished the updates.
As I told you few weeks ago, Kia will premiere a new design way for sedans on the next generation Kia Optima later this year. Speaking with Kia’s design team, sedans and SUVs will not have the same look, because these cars have a different target than sedans.
So is expected that the next-gen Sportage will drink from latest Sorento design cues and the spy pictures confirm that. On the front, a bigger Tiger-Nose tridimensional front grille between new wrap-around headlamps and more prominent fog lights while in the side preserves current Sportage line-up. On the rear end, newly designed LED tailights will be mixed with separated reverse and indicators lights like in the current model.
About engine line-up, 7-speed dual clutch transmission will be available at launch besides a choice of gasoline direct injection and diesel engines, plus small turbo engines. In the diesel side, improved 1.6 CRDi 136 hp launched on the i30 facelift could be the most desired into European market. 190 hp diesel R-Engine will be Petrol line-up could be available with all-new small turbo engines like the 1.2 T-GDi delivering 132 hp and a 1.6-liter from a final output of 170 to 201 hp. A 2.0 T-GDi 245 hp will be the most powerful variant.
Photo Source: [CarPIX]
Oh, nice. I was expecting the Sportage test cars to show up as ix35 gets closer to its final reveal.
Glad they kept the C-pillar shape. I really really really hope the front end doesn’t look anything like that stupid China only KX3 (although it looks frighteningly similar judging by the grill/headlight alignment). I hope they keep the sharp lines overall and use Sorento/Sedona’s front design.
yeah, the front end has me wondering the same thing. yikes.
The more I look at it, the more disturbing it gets: http://i.imgur.com/Tq5olO8.jpg
KX3 is absolutely horrendous. It looks like an ugly toy car. Worse than Nissan Juke. If Sportage goes the same route, it’ll be the end of it as KIA’s popular and best selling SUV. I find it unbelievable that they’ve gone from the elegant and sharp looking Sorento redesign to this utter garbage.
Jimbo – 100% agree.
Horrendous, bizarre odd-looking and and freaky KX3 is!
And this sentence – worse than Juke – couldn’t find worse insult:)
Oh wow, could I use this picture on the blog? Your recreation is very good. But I need to say that I like the KX3 a little bit haha
It was just a quick and crude PhotoShop comparison to be honest. I had such high hopes for Sportage after I saw the Sorento redesign. But this crushes all my expectations.
Hyundai on the other hand, is doing the opposite. They are turning their old dull and cartoon-ish models into modern sharp designs with their Fluid Sculpture motto. New Genesis looks like a solid luxary car. And Santa Fe, even though it’s getting old and is expecting a facelift, is still one of the best looking SUVs in the market. It looks like the next ix35 is heavily influenced by the Santa Fe, which will be awesome.
I’m in the market for a small SUV to upgrade from my Ceed. I would have loved it to be the next Sportage, since my local garage is brilliant and I never had any issues with them (our local Hyundai garage isn’t that great). But it looks like I’m buying an ix35 and shouldn’t bother waiting for Sportage.
that’s what i saw in the front end as well. luckily, when our 2005 Sportage gets replaced, we are planning on downsizing to a Soul or possibly Hyundai ix25 anyway 🙂
Yeah, they will keep current body style, but with a mix of the latest models, I think the car will be more closer to new Sorento, but with the picture you created, I’m pretty scared 😛
The rear lights doesn’t look to good, this lines (LED) reminds me of bmw, anyway i don’t like it.
But the main question is – If the front looks in 50% like this freak KX3, it shall be disaster. In the picture i see that lower part of front end is a little bit in front of the rest of the grill, looks strange (or is it just an angle, from which this photo was taken?). And do i see there 3 (three) big LEDs in the interior area of front lights?
To sum up, what is going un to Kia design???
Yeah I’m agree, the Sportage will turn from a top seller car to an ugly car
Last sentense, sorry but keybord failed:): To sum up, what is going on with Kia desing?
Actually I am into Kia Venga, Carens and Sorento (latest Models). Other models of Kia in my opinion are not practical and beauty enough. But nevertheless i would like to see the Sportage and the Optima uncovered. A Optima Caravan would be great and on my fourth place and in germany it would sell very good where the ceed Caravan is just a little bit to small for german caravan market, i think.
KIA forever.
lloks like facelifted current model. but front aka porsche cayenne, back aka BMW, this is not good. current model is much better, i hoped thah new sportage will be smething like sorento design
Jimbo, take a look at autobild’s rendering:)
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/kia-sportage-2015-vorschau-5525290.html
Oh Christ, nightmare!!!
That’s actually an early rendering of KX3 (a very accurate one). If you look closely, the C-pillar is completely different compared to these Sportage spy photos. Looks like the New Sportage will keep it’s sharp and wide vertical blade for C-pillar. But the front design will look very similar to KX3 (rounded and frog-eyed with narrow grill).
I would’ve loved the new Sportage to look like an angry mini-Sorento with wide and tall 3D grill. But they are aiming at the Chinese market for most of their sales. They love cars that look like vacuum cleaners in China.
Did Homer Simpsons design this?