Expect to see a new Sportage from Kia at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and expect it to look a lot like the vehicle pictured in these concept images. While it does share the same overall coupe proportions of the current Sportage, the concept drawings show some very noticeable changes throughout. Starting with the front, the Tiger nose grille, a signature design feature of Kia’s, makes its return once again but it’s now pushed further down and forward of the car’s hood. This, along with some of the other design changes, moves the Sportage’s look into sportier territory. I suppose it’s about time it lived up to its name.
The headlights get an unusual treatment, making the car appear more similar to a Porsche than a Kia. It’s not an outright copy-cat move, as Kia has been known to very quickly bank on design trends earlier than others, making direct comparisons with the original inspiration very easy to spot. The rear end is a little more familiar, and so is the black underbelly that is already present on the current Sportage. One thing to note here is the rear lights appear to be connected by a reflector or third brake light the stripes across above the Kia logo.
Typically, Kia have gone for oversized wheels in their concept drawings and will probably deliver a product with rims at least 18” wide with low profile tyres to keep to the aesthetics. The interior appears to fall in line with what we’ve seen on the upcoming Optima, making this a true next-gen Sportage. An short automatic shifter is pictured, so expect the expected… an automatic gearbox will probably be standard.
