KIA MOTORS SOUTH AFRICA LAUNCHES THE NEWLY ENHANCED AND UPGRADED SPORTAGE
(SOUTH AFRICA), 18 February 2014. Kia’s third generation Sportage was originally launched to the local motoring media on 31 August 2010 and has proven to be one of Kia Motors South Africa’s most popular models. To date, the Sportage has received numerous design awards including an IF-design award, a Red Dot design award, as well as an award in the Automotive Brand Contest. On the international front, the Sportage has been awarded numerous Car of the Year titles, while locally it was announced as a finalist for the 2011 Wesbank South African Car of the Year competition. Its most recent accolade was awarded in December 2013 where the Sportage was crowned as the overall winner in the SUV and Cross-over category in the Annual Standard Bank People’s Wheels Awards.
“The third generation Sportage was very well received by both the public and the South African motoring media”, comments David Sieff, Marketing Director, Kia Motors South Africa. “The Sportage has been one of our best selling vehicles in the range and this can be attributed to its stylish looks, competitive performance, state of the art features and overall value proposition.”
On 18 February 2014, Kia Motors South Africa will launch the newly enhanced and upgraded Kia Sportage. The Sportage receives small but significant upgrades to its modern exterior as well as a refreshed interior design and new materials throughout the cabin.
The upgraded Sportage will be available in two engines: a smooth 2.0 D-CVVT petrol engine and a more powerful 2.0 VGT CRDi diesel engine. The petrol engine is more refined than before and is now paired with a six-speed manual and automatic transmission, resulting in improved fuel consumption.
The steering on the diesel models change from hydraulic assisted steering to motor driven power steering. The enhanced Sportage is more refined than the current model, with a number of changes designed to minimise noise, vibration and harshness. Sportage will be available in three packages: the entry level Ignite model, only available in petrol, along with a 2WD package and the top of the range, full house AWD package, both available in petrol and diesel.
A refreshed exterior
Various changes have been made to the exterior. The front grille has been re-moulded resulting in a high-tech and stylish appearance, while changes to the front fog lamps and lower bumper amplify the vehicle’s dynamic proportions. The newly designed 17” – and 18” alloy wheels improve vehicle rigidity and contribute to a refined driving experience and enhanced N.V.H levels. The re-designed rear combination lamps are striking and add a touch of sportiness to the rear.
An improved driver space: comfort and convenience features enhancements
The newly upgraded Sportage’s driver space is improved and features many enhancements. The door upper trim features soft padding with newly developed IMG (In-Mould Graining) processed textures and offers a higher quality finish. Tweeter speakers are repositioned from the door upper trim to the quadrant cover to offer better sound reproduction.
The AWD models feature a new supervision cluster, newly designed centre fascia and a state -of-the-art Infinity sound system. The supervision instrument cluster features a new 4.2-inch TFT LCD screen which provides digitally displayed vehicle information. The dot-matrix centre fascia display on the previous Sportage AWD model is replaced with a 4.3-inch TFT LCD touch screen, which doubles up as a rear-view camera display when reverse mode is activated. The Infinity sound system has a sub woofer, external amplifier and built-in hard drive that has music storing functionality.
The centre console storage binnacle now features a detachable tray which can accommodate small items.
Engine line-up and transmissions
The Nu 2.0 CVVT gasoline engine offers a more refined driving experience. The engine generates power of 116kW @ 6200 rpm and 192 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. The old 5-speed manual gearbox on this model is replaced by a smoother and more refined 6-speed transmission, which results in improved fuel consumption. The diesel 2.0 VGT CRDi engine delivers maximum power of 130 kW @ 4000 rpm and 382 Nm of torque between 1800-2500 rpm. Both engines are available in 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
Improved driving experience and NVH levels
The new Sportage offers a quieter and smoother driving experience thanks to multiple improvements on the core areas of the body structure. The soundproof windshield glass helps to reduce wind noise, while improvements to the core areas of the body structure, such as the bush-mounted sub-frames reduce the penetration noise caused by acceleration. The new transmission mounting brackets enhance the rigidity of the mounting system. Compared to the previous model, road noise has been improved by 1.3 dB while wind noise is improved between 1 and 4 dB.
“Its always a challenge improving on a vehicle that has significantly raised the bar in the SUV space, but the areas of focus for this facelift have again pushed the Sportage into the spotlight as a great car to live with and enjoy”, Sieff concludes.
At launch, the upgraded Sportage will be available in eight colours: Clear White, Bright Silver, Mineral Silver, Sand Track, Black Cherry, Vintage Blue, Signal Red and Sage Green. All models come standard with a 5-year / 150 000 km warranty (up from 100 000km), a 5-year / 100 000 km service plan and a 3-year / unlimited roadside assistance plan.
About Kia Motors Corporation Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) – a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart – was founded in 1944 and is Korea’s oldest manufacturer of motor vehicles. Over 2.7 million Kia vehicles a year are produced in 10 manufacturing and assembly operations in five countries which are then sold and serviced through a network of distributors and dealers covering around 150 countries. Kia today has around 48,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of over US$43 billion. It is the major sponsor of the Australian Open and an official automotive partner of FIFA – the governing body of the FIFA World Cup™. Kia Motors Corporation’s brand slogan – “The Power to Surprise” – represents the company’s global commitment to surprise the world by providing exciting and inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.’