2011 Kia Sportage

Kia has been in the process of updating its exterior design language for a few models now, and the results continue to impress with 2011 Kia Sportage, which debuted at the recent Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.

The Sportage bears a close family resemblance to the new Kia Sorento and Kia Forte/Kia Forte Koupe, with an aggressive front fascia, sporting stance, and sculpted hood and bodywork. It’s a vast improvement over the South Korean automaker’s previous-generation Sportage, which looked more like it was designed in North Korea.

Kia hasn’t provided a full spec sheet for the vehicle yet, but the company says it will be “longer, lower and wider” than the current model, with more interior room and a longer wheelbase. One can look for the

Sportage to offer the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that drives its platform-mate, the new Hyundai Tucson, along with similar EPA ratings of 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway.
The new Sportage comes along at a great time for Kia, as it will be one of the newest, most efficient vehicles

in one of the industry’s most important and competitive segments. And although the Toyota RAV4 also debuted with macho new sheet metal in Geneva, its parent company’s quality woes put it at a distinct

disadvantage to the Kia. This leaves the Sportage to take on one of the more formidable compact crossovers, the Rogue, which continues to be a stellar success among Nissan Rogue Seattle WA dealers for its style, peppy powertrain, and competitive fuel economy.

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2012 Kia K2 Revealed at

Here are 2012 Kia K2 revealed at 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. The Kia K2, a new B-segment model based on the redesigned Kia Rio, debuted on Tuesday at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. Intended for the Chinese market only, the K2 illustrates Kia’s global strategy of custom-tailoring products for local markets.

“K2 represents the next phase in Kia’s strategy to better satisfy customers in various regions of the world by developing and marketing products that reflect local tastes and needs,” said Kia in a statement.

The new subcompact draws on styling cues from the Kia Optima — sold as the K5 in China — and will go on sale in June. A five-door hatchback version of the K2 is slated to go on sale in China in August. It was developed with Dongfeng Yueda Kia, Kia’s joint venture partner.

The 2012 Kia K2 will be available in six trim levels. It will be equipped with either a 1.4-liter or 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a manual or automatic transmission, said Kia.

Named Kia K2 (Chinese market only), the new sub-compact four-door sedan shares its powertrain technology with Hyundai Verna (China-market Hyundai Accent), meaning the model offers a choice of 1,4L and 1,6L gasoline engines mated to four-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmissions. The upcoming Kia K2 will be built locally at Kia’s manufacturing plant in China with production slated to commence in July this year

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