Kia Europe has revealed the first official sketches of the all-new European-market Sportage. For the first time in its history, Kia is launching a dedicated Sportage designed specifically for European customers in what is the fifth generation of the brand’s most popular SUV.

The Sportage has been carefully designed and developed to establish new benchmarks in its segment while also catering specifically for European tastes and roads. The advanced exterior and interior design pushes styling boundaries, setting the tone for the next-generation Sportage line-up. State-of-the-art connectivity tech, responsive yet highly efficient advanced powertrains and the very latest passive, active and ADAS safety innovations further enhance the SUV’s premium stature. Developed on a new architecture, the Sportage has also been meticulously honed to offer optimal drive and handling characteristics for European roads. 

Forward-thinking design
Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – is at the heart of the Sportage, influencing every aspect of its appearance and character. Its design builds on the theme ‘Bold for Nature’ and pays homage to nature’s perfection and simplicity whilst connecting with the brand’s new design direction. The sketches revealed today hint at a sporty, assertive and pioneering SUV.

The Sportage will feature a more compact and adventurous profile hinting at heightened levels of agility and performance seen as ideal for European roads. Designed to be the most dynamic and stylish SUV in its segment, the Sportage will feature a muscular stance and a strong yet refined silhouette with crisp, taught character lines that ripple across the surfaces.

The sketches hint at a bold front-end design with a detail-orientated black grille graphic spanning the width of the face. A fresh interpretation of Kia’s iconic floating signature Tiger Nose grille combines with distinctive boomerang-shaped LED DRLs (daytime running lamps) and Matrix LED headlamps.

Representing another first for the Sportage range, the sketches show a black roof that helps to further accentuate the sporting profile of the all-new SUV, while also highlighting a dynamic C-pillar design treatment.

At the rear, powerful and broad shoulder lines meet slim rear LED combi lamps flanked by the new Kia logo. A unique black rear bumper design further emphasises the Sportage’s sporty, youthful character.

Digital launch
Kia’s all-new European-market Sportage will make its debut during a live digital launch event being held on Wednesday 1 September on Kia owned channels at 10am BST. Viewers will be able to learn more about Kia’s first SUV designed specifically for European customers. European sales of all-new Sportage will commence later this year. The UK specification, pricing and line-up will also be announced later this year.