Bold styling was one of the things which set the outgoing Kia Sportage apart from its rivals. And the 2022 Sportage CUV continues this tradition if this non-official rendering is to be believed.
Using the latest spyshots of test prototypes testing in Germany, South Korean artist AtchaCars has now fleshed out the rear of the 2022 Sportage. It starts out with a photo of the Sorento, which is an example of Kia's latest design language, but quickly evolves into the recognizable sporty shape of the smaller CUV.
The artist's style of rendering is pretty different, as he uses inverted colors and blue lines for the panel lines, resulting in an X-ray-like appearance. But these tricks also make it easier to see the design forming.
The highlight of the 2022 Sportage's rear has to be the wrap-around taillight design. This feature isn't exactly unexpected. The Stinger has it and has been almost universally loved. The unibrow lights also mean we can continue to compare Kia's design to Porsche while casually mentioning Peter Schreyer's good work. In case you're wondering, the taillights that are being pasted come from the K5 sedan, which is only logical, considering the Sportage now has the NQ5 codename.
Various reports have hinted that the model will also move closer to the D-segment by means of a long-wheelbase optional configuration. This might be something that sets it apart from the Hyundai Tucson sister model. A previous rendering by the same artist has given us a glimpse at the Sportage's front, which is quite difficult to interpret but has a hint of that Audi Q8 angularity.
When it comes to the stuff under the hood, the Sportage might be a little less German. We predict that the main setup for the American market will combine the new 2.5-liter with 8-speed auto. This new naturally aspirated four-cylinder promises to be more powerful (187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque). However, Kia might also decide to offer a 1.6-liter turbo or even a hybrid version of that for the ultimate fuel efficiency.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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