KIA recently unveiled official images of the fifth-generation KIA Sportage compact SUV that will be launched globally later this year. The new exterior is a sleek, modern and muscular design that challenges KIA’s design norms and moves the Sportage identity into the next generation while paying homage to its heritage. The interior is truly avante-garde, claims KIA, blending high-tech into contemporary style.
The all-new Sportage is the result of a collaborative effort between KIA’s main global design network in Korea, with Germany, the United States of America, and China. its youthful appearance, character and design was influenced by KIA’s new design philosophy – Opposites United. This philosophy focuses on five pillars: Joy for Reason, Power to Progress, Technology for Life, Tension for Serenity and Bold for Nature. These pillars will influence all future KIA designs, giving them the same basic DNA, and it also strengthens the connection between design and KIA’s new brand direction, ‘Movement that inspires’.
Setting new exterior benchmarks
The front of the all-new Sportage creates an immediate with a black grille graphic stretching across the width of the face and crafting an imposing front volume. The elongated grille links KIA’s signature Tiger Nose grille – which acts as the SUV’s visual focal point – to the distinctive futuristic-styled boomerang-shaped DRLs, which in turn create solid boundary lines for the striking headlamps. This design complexity of the front facia is balanced by the simplicity of the main surfaces at the front, including the pronounced bumper.
The side profile of the Sportage stays true to its sports utility DNA, with taut lines cutting across pure, clean, but refined body surfaces that seamlessly blend the contrasting volumes. Representing a first for the Sportage range is a black roof, a different colour paint option to the vehicle’s body. The addition of a chrome beltline kicks up onto the rear of the all-new Sportage and into the D-pillar, creating harmonious lines with the rear spoiler.
The rear maintains a strong road presence with its broad shoulders, allowing the SUV to personify strength and stability. The swooping fastback flows into the rear lamps, crafted to give the impression that they cut into the body with fine precision, forming the outline of the rear lamp graphic and the main section of the tailgate.
Completing the exterior design, a large lower rear bumper casing uses the same technical philosophy as the black grille, connecting the all-new Sportage’s rear design elements and resulting in lightness in both appearance and touch.
The avant-garde interior
The interior offers intuitive and innovative technology to create a driver-orientated space dominated by a sculpted integrated curved display with a slim touchscreen pad and finely detailed air vents.
The high-tech touchscreen pad and advanced integrated controller act as the nerve centre for driver and passenger connectivity, functionality, and usability needs. Both systems have been created to be easy-to-use, highly intuitive, and soft to touch.
Optimally positioned for the driver and front passenger is an ergonomic centre console that combines convenience with luxury. Finished with a high-end gloss, the console provides storage, operating system configuration, cupholders and soft-touch switches. Further enhancing passenger convenience, at the rear of the driver and front passenger seats are integrated hanger-type designs within the slim headrests, allowing clothing and handbags to be easily and conveniently hooked into place. For the first time in the Sportage’s history, a bolder model has been specifically designed to convey a more confident, vigorous, and versatile character. The all-new Sportage X-Line features a unique bumper, side sill and curved roof rack. On the inside, customers can choose between a signature sage green or black seating, as well as bold quilting and black metal wood to further bring to life the model’s confident persona.
