2011 Kia Sportage Compact SUV Revealed in Official Patent Filings

The next generation of Kia's Sportage compact SUV has been given away through a series of designs that were made for the European Union's patent office. Note however that there's a small chance that the patent images could be depicting an almost production-ready study destined for either the Geneva Salon in March or the Seoul Motor Show in April.

The reason why we're saying this is the use of some specific styling features such as the chrome trim, the tail lamp arrangement, the alloy wheel designs and the styling of the lower part of the front bumper, all of which look suspiciously conceptual (see the spy shots here).

But even so, what you're looking at here is what you'll get more or less when the 2011 Sportage arrives at the Korean automakers dealers either towards the end of the year or early 2011.

Like all Kias penned under the guiding hand of former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, the new Sportage is a much more attractive proposition than the outgoing model.

Under the bodywork, the Sorento's smaller sibling shares its hardware with the new Hyundai Tucson (called iX35 in Europe and other markets).

That said, don't expect any surprises under the hood with the North American Sportage being offered with the same 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter four cylinder engines coupled to six-speed transmissions as the Tuscon.

Likewise, the European market Sportage will get three diesels including a 115HP 1.7-liter unit, and a 2.0-liter engine with 134HP and 184HP, and two gasoline units with a displacement of 1.6-liter and 2.0-liters producing 140HP and 166HP respectively.

Source: EU Patent Office , Via: RyanoKeefe

Kia Developing High-End K9 Sports Saloon to sit Above the Cadneza / K7?

If we are to believe the reports coming in from Korea, Kia may be testing the grounds for a new flagship sedan positioned above the Amanti's replacement, the 2011 Cadenza saloon that is known as the K7 in the Korean firm's home market.

The news comes from a Korean site claiming that at a design conference in Seoul, Korea, Kia's design boss, Peter Schreyer showed the teaser sketch pictured above while he was talking about expanding the brand's portfolio into new territories.

Many sites claim that the photo depicts a sports saloon proposal, possibly named K9.

We have no way of confirming the reports or rumors -take your pick- nor if the photos shows a high-end saloon or some other vehicle (to be honest, it could be a sketch for the next Forte for all we know...), but it would come to no surprise if Kia does present a flagship model, maybe even based on the Hyundai Genesis' RWD platform, in the very near future.

Source: Aboutcar , Via: Worldcarfans

2011 Kia Sportage Compact SUV Spied Inside and Out

Kia is continuing the development of its next generation Sportage that is scheduled to enter the market in the first half of 2010. Our spies captured a camouflaged prototype of the compact SUV in Germany giving us a taste of the Sportage silhouette and interior styling. As you may have already guessed, the 2011 Sportage (or 2010, depending on which side of the Atlantic you're located) is based on the new Hyundai ix35 utilizing the same platform and hardware.

At least in what concerns the European market model, the next Sportage will most likely be offered with the same engine line up as the Hyundai Tucson's replacement.

That said, European buyers should expect three diesels including a new 1.7-liter unit rated at 115hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, and 136HP and 184HP versions of the Korean firm's 2.0-liter 'R' turbo diesel.

The gasoline engine range should consists of the Hyundai- Kia Group's forthcoming 1.6-liter GDI direct-injection four-pot that makes 140 hp and 123 lb-ft. of torque and a more powerful 2.0-liter unit with 166HP and 145 lb-ft.

2011 Kia VG Sedan: First Official Photos of Production Model Leaked

This past Aprli at the Seoul Motor Show, Kia gave us a foretaste of its upcoming flagship sedan with the KND-5 concept car. And even though we weren't supposed to see it yet in production form, the first official photos of the model that is currently known by its code name VG were leaked onto the internet today. The VG is set to replace the existing Opirus / Amanti in Korean, North American and European markets - with the exception of Britain as Kia said that it has no plans to import the model in the UK.

Oddly enough, and even though at a first glance it appears that the production model has kept all the distinct features we liked on the concept car, the end result -always judging by these photos- looks far less aggressive when compared to the KND-5.

Of course it's a stunner when put side to side with the current Amanti / Opirus, but then again, find a four-door saloon that isn't...

The 'VG', or whatever else Kia decides to call it will, most likely have similar dimensions to the concept that measured 194.5-in. (4,945mm) in length, 72.8-in. (1,850mm) in width and 57.9-in. (1,475mm) in height with a wheelbase of 111.8-in (2,845mm).

The mid-size saloon that will sit atop the Optima / Magentis in Kia's lineup will be offered with a choice of two engines, either the Hyundai Group's new 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine producing around 200 horsepower or a Lamba V6.

Sales will kick off in Korea before the end of the year and the U.S., Europe and other international markets sometime in the first half of 2010.

Via: fiatgroupforum

2011 KIA VG SEDAN PRODUCTION MODEL

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KIA KND-5 CONCEPT CAR