Kia Sorento News

The new Venga mini people-mover, wearing the svelte new looks penned by design chief Peter Schreyer, will be unveiled at Frankfurt motor show next month

Unveiled this week at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in Korea, the new Sorento is bigger and gets seating for up to seven.The sleeker, Lexus-inspired body shape is now monocoque — previously it was a body-on-frame design with a separate ladder chassis — and will be available as either a 2WD or 4WD.The same philosophy has worked well for the Ford Territory, Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe.Prices and final specification are yet to be announced for Australia, though it's probable we will be offered a carry-over 207kW/335Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol or a new 147kW/435Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel. This diesel replaces the 125kW/392Nm 2.5-litre unit.Off-roaders and travellers will be pleased to note the new Sorento retains a 2500kg tow rating.Transmissions would be a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual.Global markets can pick from four engines including a 123kW/244Nm 2.7-litre V6 running on LPG — a powerplant that could find favour with Australian motorists.Designed with the final hand of new Kia stylist Peter Schreyer, the Sorento is about 110mm longer than its predecessor.Kia claims that leads to an increase in interior headroom by 64mm (to 906mm) and legroom by 102mm (to 795mm).Luggage space is up by 15 per cent — there is 258 litres behind the third seat row and 1047 litres behind the second row — because the tailgate has been moved back by 70mm.Optional or standard features likely to come on the Australian model include keyless entry and engine start, a panoramic glass roof, rear camera, sat-nav and an iPod/USB compatible audio with up to 10 speakers. 

Now the Korean carmaker is focusing on April's Seoul Motor Show, where it will unveil the new Sorento off-roader, codenamed XM.Probably the biggest news about the new Sorento is that it will move from a traditional body-on-frame construction to a unit-body design borrowed from the Hyundai Veracruz, which is sold in North America.Visually it is clear the Sorento has grown up, with a more refined and car-like design to distance itself from the more agricultural current model.The new look is more muscular, following some of the same themes as the contemporary looking Cerato, also design by Kia chief designer, Peter Schreyer.The off-roader is expected to have both turbo-diesel and petrol engines.Its engine line-up is expected to include the next-generation 150kW/435Nm 2.2-litre R-diesel engine delivering an impressive 7.0 litre/100km, a 2.4-litre Theta II petrol four cylinder and a 200kW 3.8-litre in-line petrol six.Engines will be coupled to a new six-speed automatic transmission. 

A purpose-built 4x4 track at the Australian International Motor Show offers visitors the chance to evaluate a range of different vehicles.Show-goers are able to experience as close to a real-life off-roading situation as you can get in the city.Exhibiting 4WD brands are:Hyundai - Santa FeJeep - WranglerKia - Sportage, SorentoLexus - LX 570Mitsubishi - Triton GLX-R, PajeroNissan - X-TRAIL Turbo DieselRenault - KoleosToyota - Landcruiser 200Volkswagen - TouaregVisitors to the show interested in a particular 4x4 will receive a VIP pass to the 4x4 track to experience the vehicle’s performance and are driven around the track by a professional driver.Track is built to demonstrate the abilities of each vehicle and obstacles are designed to demonstrate the vehicles’ increasingly advanced technology and abilities.The see-saw gives an indication of vehicle balance, the hill structure tests traction and control, the moguls and rocks show-off ground clearance and the new addition of the u-turn at the end of the track demonstrates the tightness of the turning circleThe vehicles navigate the track in slow motion; just as experienced four-wheel-drivers would approach such obstacles in real-life situations.