The outgoing Kia Sportage became one of the most successful models of the South Korean car company not only in the Czech Republic and Slovakia (where it was produced), but also in Europe. Therefore, the technicians and designers put a lot of care into the successor, for the first time ever, a sporty version of the GT Line will be available.
The front part is dominated by a lower and wider grille in the shape of a tiger's nose, which is followed by higher-mounted front lights with a black frame and an additional turning function depending on where the steering wheel is facing. Skarohlídové point out the perhaps too much similarity with the Porsche Macan. Not only the 16-, 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels, but also the extended front overhang by 20 mm and the rear overhang shortened by 10 mm will attract attention from the profile. In the rear sections , sheet metal prevails over glass again (but it is 30 mm wider), but when compared between generations, the new Sportage is noticeably more attractive. This is mainly due to the lights stretched to the sides , connected by a chrome bar. An electric fifth door celebrates its premiere as an optional extra. Thanks to redesigned bumpers at both ends of the car, the aerodynamic drag of the cx has been reduced from 0.35 to 0.33. A hitherto unknown option for a compact SUV with a length of 4,480 mm , a width of 1,855 mm and a height of 1,635 mm is the sporty GT Line version . You can tell by the standard 19-inch wheels, more aggressive bumpers with a silver-painted central part, double exhaust tips and, above all, LED fog lights in the Cee'du GT style.
1129 mm (+ 19 mm) for the legs of the front passengers, respectively 970 mm (+ 7 mm) for the legs of the rear passengers, is due to the wheelbase extended to 2670 mm . The newly shaped roof and seats offer the headroom of front and rear passengers increased to 997 and 993 mm. Speaking of the front seats, they can be heated in three stages and electrically adjustable in ten positions. The rear three seats, on which it is easier to sit thanks to the 40 mm lower floor , will receive seat and backrest heating for an additional fee, it should be much easier to fold them to increase the capacity of the trunk, the basic volume of which has increased to 503 liters . Thanks to the stiffer frame, the weight of the seats in both rows decreased by 2.5 kilograms, and unpleasant vibrations were also suppressed. The dashboard is oriented more towards the driver and is clearly divided into two sections . The upper part is a 7- or 8-inch display of the multimedia system, below are the buttons for controlling the climate control and other functions of the car. Infotainment in both cases is equipped with digital signal reception and a 160-watt car audio system with six speakers, navigation and 320-watt JBL premium audio will also be available for an extra charge. As the first compact SUV, the Kia Sportage can be equipped with a wireless charging station for smartphones, located in the center tunnel between the front seats. Directly from the driver's seat, thanks to thinner and lower A-pillars, 62 mm thinner C-pillars and lower-mounted mirrors, there is a better view in all directions, and the reversing camera makes parking more pleasant. An additional 490 mm long panoramic window brings more light. In addition to the black version of the dashboard, Kia also offers a combination of two colors (light and dark gray or black and beige), the depicted GT Line version has a specifically shaped leather steering wheel, piano black decor and aluminum pedals.
The level of noise and vibration penetrating the cabin from the wheels (63 dB) and the engine (36 dB with the gasoline and 44 dB with the diesel unit) was significantly reduced . Up to 51 percent of the body is now made of ultra-high-strength steel , which of course increased torsional rigidity by a significant 39 percent. The standard equipment of all new Kias will be six airbags and the attachment of Isofix child seats in the second row of seats, as part of the surcharges, there will be no shortage of modern assistants including autonomous braking, lane departure warning, reading traffic signs with a speed limit, monitoring the blind spot or detection behind the car with moving objects.
All four wheels are independently suspended, thanks to the modified setting of the shock absorbers and the steering, the new product will be more manageable and more stable. The Sportage GT Line will receive a different chassis setup, better suited to a sporty nature, and as the only version of the entire offer, it will also receive electric power steering (it will also be available for other equipment lines for an additional fee). An electronic parking brake will appear across the model range, which is activated automatically when the driver switches off the engine. The basic drive unit will be an atmospheric six-cylinder GDI with a capacity of 132 hp with a torque of 161 Nm, however, the turbocharged sixteen-cylinder T-GDI from the Ceed'du GT with a capacity of 177 hp with a torque of 265 Nm between 1500 – 4500 rpm is much more interesting. This unit is the only one that can be connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, but it will be offered exclusively for the GT Line version. The diesel base, a 115-horsepower CRDi 17-liter , has been taken over from the last generation of the Korean SUV, the two-liter R-series has received several modifications, resulting in 136 horses and 373 Nm, respectively 184 horses and 400 Nm. With the already mentioned exception in the form of the 1.6 T-GDI, all units have a choice between a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, with selected engines it will also be possible to reach for four-wheel drive. Finally, the interesting thing is the increase in the fuel tank from 58 to 62 liters.
Source: Kia
