Kia Pulls the Wraps Off Of Its Next-Generation Sportage

Hopefully making the airbags irrelevant is a fully-independent MacPherson strut suspension system up front and a dual-link setup

According to the press material, the Sportage will feature an "ergonomically designed center fascia with driver-friendly control placement." (Photo: Kia Canada)

in the rear. Adding adhesion are standard 16-inch wheels with 215/65R 16 tires in the front and 235/60R16s in back.

Kia also boasts that its new Sportage features greater convenience than its rivals, by stowing its spare tire horizontally under the cargo floor, instead of vertically inside the cargo area or attached to the rear door. The new SUV's rear hatch is also said to be multifunctional, as it rises upward to allow easier access than side-swinging doors in confined areas and includes a convenient "flip-up" rear window.

From a driver's perspective, it features an "ergonomically designed center fascia with driver-friendly control placement," or so the automaker's press release states, with a variety of seating (or sleeping) configurations including front seats that lay fully flat. Its "fold and dive" rear seats reportedly increase cargo capacity, while the rear seatbacks are split folding to accommodate more than two occupants while hauling longer items.

The new Sportage, which shares general architecture with the upcoming Hyundai Tucson, will start rolling off the production line

Expect the new Sportage to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show this September, with European sales starting shortly thereafter. (Photo: Kia Canada)

in early September, with the first allotment going to Europe and what Kia refers to as general markets. Canada will have to wait a little over a month later for its first run of Sportages, as production will start at the end of October.

Kia expects to sell 100,000 units per year outside of South Korea, with more than 60,000 destined for North America, 20,000 for Europe and the remaining 20,000 throughout other markets.

Look for the new model to first appear in the flesh at the Paris Motor Show this September.