Kia has released the first official sketches of its upcoming Sportage SUV ahead of its full reveal on September 1st. Although we've already seen images of the new Sportage, the sketches confirm that Kia is planning to launch a unique version of the crossover for Ireland and the rest of the European market.
Design language
Kia's EV6 has already showcased some of the company's new design language - called Opposites United - and some of this found its way into the new Sportage, as evidenced by the sketches.
The front-end treatment has mostly carried-through onto the new model with dramatic LED boomerang DRLs and headlamps atop a new interpretation of the familiar Kia grille.
The rakish, floating, coupe-like roofline hasn't quite made it through to production like the frontal design, but the C-pillar design isn't far off, and, like the concept sketches, the roof of the production version will be in contrasting black.
Nor is the rear too far off the concept sketches. We get similar slim LED lights and a light bar running across the rear, though, like the rest of the design, it loses some of its sharpness and compactness, compared with the sketches.
Kia has not released concept sketches showing the interior, so we can't see how that's evolved through the design process, but the production version will feature a large digital dashboard as well as a sizeable infotainment screen, both flanked by stylishly integrated air vents.
Built for Europe
Other parts of the world are getting a bigger Sportage, but the one previewed in the sketches has been designed specifically for Europe's roads and tastes.
The Sportage we're getting will succeed the current, fourth-generation model in terms of size, and likely pricing.
As it's based on the new Hyundai Tucson's platform, expect a similar line-up of petrol and diesel models, a hybrid option and, topping the range, a plug-in hybrid model.
Irish pricing for the 2022 Kia Sportage has yet to be announced.