Korean manufacturer's new Sorento SUV has seen the daylight at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show, bringing with it sleek styling and a futuristic touch to the world of the urban CUV. The new CUV will be manufactured with a total of four engines – with different engines being available in various regions around the world in order to best suit local requirements.
For the Korean market, the new Sorento will come with a choice of three engines, including a version of its 2.7l V6 engine running on LPG, called the Mu LPI. This unit delivers 165 horsepower and 244 Nm of torque because of the use of LPG.
2010 Sorento will also be available in the Korean market with the four-cylinder 2.4l Theta II petrol engine, boasting 175 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque, as well as the new four-cylinder R2.2l diesel engine (197 horsepower and 435 Nm of torque).
Sorento comes in both five and six speed manual and automatic transmissions. Two different drive trains are available for the new CUV. The 2WD drivetrain offers lower weight and enhanced fuel economy, while the 4WD drivetrain is meant for difficult driving conditions or towing trailers (weighing up to 2,500 kilograms, depending on model).
Kia engineers gave up the body-on-frame structure used until now and designed a new monocoque body shell, with room for up to seven occupants. This was achieved by repositioning the A-pillars and dashboard and by extending the tailgate.
Interior headroom was increased by 64 mm (to 906 mm) and legroom by 102 mm (to 795 mm). The luggage space in the new Sorento is increased by 15 percent, thanks to moving the tailgate back by almost 70 mm.
Visually, frontal styling incorporates Kia’s new signature grille that blends into the new four-light, black bezel wrap-around headlamps. The profile’s rising upper belt-line and trapezoid C-pillar adds to the new Sorento's sporty look.
Active safety technologies made available on the new Sorento include ESC, HAC, DBC, TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) and RPAS (Rear Parking Assist System), plus several systems to boost braking performance during extreme conditions.
The manufacturer hopes to sell no less than 140,000 units of the new Sorento every year, starting its release for sale in 2010. Updated with video on April the 3rd here.
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