New Kia Sportage Developed on UK Roads

The British arm of the South-Korean manufacturer Kia announced today its new Sportage model is the fourth consecutive vehicle to have been specifically developed for the UK’s roads and drivers. The new Sportage, which is to be built at the Zilina plant in Slovakia, has undergone final testing in the UK earlier this year.

The car, which is following in the wheel tracks of the Soul, Venga and Sorento, will go on sale in the UK on August 1, 2010.

“Being involved right from the early stages of prototype testing on project ‘SL’ (the internal codename for the new Sportage), in both dynamic and static performance testing, has meant that we have been able to ensure UK market needs have been incorporated throughout the development process,” Neil Kent, Product Specialist, from Kia Motors UK, said in a release.

According to Kia’s Steering & Suspension Development Manager, Michael Lugert, the entire suspension set-up – springs, dampers, stabiliser bars and bushes – has been developed on European roads.

“The United Kingdom is the largest market for Kia in Europe so great efforts are made to ensure that our new products not only look and feel ‘European’ but that they perform just as UK customers want them to,” said Michael Cole, Managing Director for Kia Motors UK Limited. “Sportage has been in the UK for over fifteen years – I’m convinced that the new generation’s striking design and great on-road ability will find favour with both our loyal existing customers and people who are new to the Kia brand.”

The new SUV is built on the same platform as the Hyundai ix35, thus being bigger than the previous generation. It will feature engines ranging from 2.0l to 2.4l four cylinder units, all coupled to a six-speed transmission.