<p>On this day, March 18, in Frankfurt, Germany, the new Kia Sorento  ;was  ;revealed for the first time  ;to the public across the globe. It is manufactured by Kia Motors, maker of world-class quality vehicles for the young-at-heart.</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">A statement, signed by Vladislav Alexiev, Manager Product Communications, and made available to OpenLife stated that the new Kia Sorento is powerful, progressive and versatile, the fourth generation of Kia Motors Corporation’s flagship SUV is designed and engineered to take on everything life throws at it.</h1>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading"> ;</h1>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Raising
standards in the midsize SUV class for space, efficiency and quality, it sits
at the heart of Kia’s reinvigorated global SUV line-up, which also includes the
Seltos, Stonic, Telluride and Sportage. </h1>



<p>Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for
Kia Motors Europe, comments: “The Sorento’s evolution over the last 18 years
echoes that of the Kia brand as a whole. While the car was initially launched in
2002 as a utilitarian all-terrain vehicle, the fourth-generation Sorento has
been transformed into something altogether more desirable. It is an important model
for Kia, particularly now that it also represents the first use of electrified
power in our flagship SUV.”</p>



<p>The
Sorento’s redefined exterior design – with sharper lines, high-tech details, and
elongated proportions – gives it a more confident and mature presence. Inside,
its attractive cabin also introduces premium-quality materials, cutting-edge
infotainment technologies, and a stunning new design.</p>



<p>The new
Sorento is the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s new-generation midsize SUV
platform. Paired with a larger body to maximise cargo and luggage space, the
platform ensure the Sorento is one of the most versatile and spacious three-row
SUVs on the road.</p>



<p>Furthermore,
the Sorento’s innovative interior packaging means it can offer all this while
accommodating Kia’s new ‘Smartstream’ electrified powertrains – the first time
that hybrid power has featured in the Sorento line-up. As a result, the new
model offers greater fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and higher performance
than its predecessors. </p>



<p>This
will be Kia’s most high-tech car ever, thanks to its progressive connectivity,
driver assistance and infotainment technologies. Its user-friendly twin digital
displays deliver advanced graphics, new telematics features and smartphone
connectivity.</p>



<p>A
mainstay of Kia’s global line-up, more than three million Sorento models have
been sold worldwide since it was launched in 2002. In that time, Europe has
accounted for around 300,000 of these.</p>



<p><strong>Exterior design</strong></p>



<p><strong>More confident, mature and desirable </strong></p>



<p>Stylish and modern, the new Sorento is the
flagship for Kia’s reinvigorated global SUV line-up, alongside the Stonic,
Seltos and Sportage, as well as the Kia Telluride available in North America
and certain other markets. The new model is the result of a collaborative design effort betweenKia’s worldwide design network.</p>



<p>The
concept of ‘refined boldness’ inspired Kia’s designers, who sought to maintain
the robust, tough-looking aesthetic of earlier generations of Sorento, while applying
a greater degree of refinement and elegance<a>, and even a
sense of sportiness</a>.Its bodywork incorporates sharp
lines and creases – noticeably more sculpted than its more round-edged
predecessor. With more contemporary geometric details and more swept-back, elongated
proportions, the result is a more confident, more mature and more desirable design
than ever. </p>



<p>The front of the Sorento evolves with a new
interpretation of Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger nose’ grille, displaying a wider shape
which organically wraps around the integrated headlamps on each side. The
headlamps themselves feature a new ‘tiger eyeline’ LED daytime
running light, adding extra focus to the design by depicting the intense
impression of the lines around a tiger’s eyes. This sharper, more assertive appearance
is complemented by a wide, rectangular lower air intake, bookended by
wing-shaped air curtains to channel air around the car. <a>A
sharp bumper lip is also capped with a skid plate, enhancing its robust appearance.
</a>The new model is 1,900 mm wide, 10 mm wider than the third-generation
Sorento. </p>



<p>In profile, the proportions of the Sorento
are subtly adapted to make it appear longer. The new model is 10 mm longer than
its predecessor (now 4,810 mm), yet it features shorter front and rear
overhangs. The additional length is found in the wheelbase (a result of the
Sorento’s new platform), which has grown by 35 mm to 2,815 mm. This subtly
adapts the visual character of the Sorento, making it look longer and ‘faster’,
despite being 10 mm taller. It also extends the length of the bonnet, drawing
the A-pillar 30 mm further back from the front axle. The trailing edge of the
hood wraps around the front wings and turns into a single, strong character
line which extends along the side of the Sorento and into the rear lamps.</p>



<p>Ever recognisable as a Sorento, it retains
the characteristic wide D-pillar, substantial bodywork and clad wheel arches
that have defined all three generations to-date. It also adopts certain other
design features from more recent Kia models, however, including a new  ;dynamic shape on its C-pillar and sculpted
body surfaces with sharp creases. </p>



<p>Inspired by the Telluride, the Sorento
adopts new vertical tail lamps which wrap around the side of the body. Sharper
lines in the bodywork echo the straight, technical appearance of the front of
the car, with horizontal shapes used to make the vehicle appear wider and more
imposing on the road. <a>Trim on the sporty lower rear
bumper embodies the appearance of dual tailpipes and, like the front, features
a skid plate to add to its tough SUV aesthetic. </a>The fourth-generation model
follows other recent Kia models, such as Telluride and ProCeed, with the
Sorento model name displayed centrally across the tailgate. A subtle integrated
spoiler also conceals the rear wiper, resulting in a less fussy design and
enhancing the driver’s view out of the back.</p>



<p>The new Sorento will be available in Europe
with a choice of 10 paint finishes, and the option of 17-, 18-, 19- and, for
the first time in the line-up, 20-inch aluminium alloy wheels.</p>



<p><strong>Interior design</strong></p>



<p><strong>Attractive, upscale cabin with premium
material quality and progressive tech</strong></p>



<p>The interior of the fourth-generation
Sorento represents a step-change in quality and design for Kia cabins. From the
first-generation 2002 Kia Sorento, which provided occupants with a practical,
robust and utilitarian space, the Sorento today provides owners with something
altogether more striking, desirable and comfortable.</p>



<p>One of the highest quality interior spaces
found in any Kia to-date, the intuitive, tech-oriented cabin of the new Sorento
is fitted with premium-quality materials and cutting-edge infotainment. At the
same time, it retains the spaciousness and versatility that has characterised the
Sorento over its 18-year existence.</p>



<p>The
attractive, upscale cabin introduces a sophisticated next-generation design,
based around twin digital displays in the dashboard. The 12.3-inch digital
driver instrument cluster is twinned with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment
and navigation system at the centre of the dashboard. These display
information clearly within the driver’s line of sight, and create an innovative wide-screen
user experience. The car’s many functions can also be controlled with new
haptic buttons on either side of the screen, which also feature further down
the dashboard for the climate control system. The focal point of the dashboard
is the eye-catching vertical ventilation stack, with a chrome-effect surround
that extends onto the centre console below.</p>



<p>The
cabin of the new Sorento subtly integrates a range of other technologies,
including an available Mood Lighting system. This emits soft ambient
downlighting from beneath the dashboard and door trim, creating a lounge-like
feeling and greater sense of space. A wireless smartphone charger also sits at
the base of the centre console, while a powerful BOSE® surround-sound system is
also available to provide a more immersive in-car audio experience.</p>



<p>Material quality is enhanced, with a cabin that blends metallic
trim, leather upholstery, and embossed satin-effect surfaces. Applied
throughout the interior and across the dashboard, the cabin boasts a more
sophisticated appearance and ambience as a result. In Europe, the Sorento is
offered to buyers with a choice of black cloth, leather (grey or black
single-tone, or black-and-grey two-tone), or black quilted Nappa leather.</p>



<p><strong>Packaging and versatility</strong></p>



<p><strong>The pursuit of practicality: new
platform maximises space and versatility</strong></p>



<p>The new Sorento is based on Kia’s new third-generation
midsize SUV platform, providing superior space for people and cargo through
more intelligent packaging. The result is one of the most versatile and
spacious cars in its class.</p>



<p>The new platform is based around a compact
engine bay structure and shorter front and rear overhangs, with a 35 mm longer
wheelbase creating greater cabin space between the axles. Not only does this
enable the new model’s stylish, more swept-back design; the structure and
layout of the new platform means the Sorento is able to accommodate electrified
powertrains for the first time.</p>



<p>The Sorento Hybrid’s battery pack is located
under the floor of the cabin. As a result, the SUV offers generous space for up
to seven passengers as well as one of the largest luggage capacities in its
class – up to 821 litres (for seven-seat models) or 910 litres (for five-seat
models), depending on specification. This means the car can accommodate five
people in comfort, and a significant amount of luggage. In seven-seat models, with
all seven seats in place, boot space is also increased by 32% compared to its
predecessor, to 187 litres (VDA, diesel models; 179 litres for Hybrid models). Controls
in the side wall of the boot also let users fold down the second-row seat backs
remotely at the touch of a button.</p>



<p>For passengers, the new platform maximises
space in all three rows, offering more head-, leg- and shoulder-room than many
rivals. In particular, the new platform has created a significant amount of
extra legroom for first- and second-row occupants, as well as more headroom for
third-row passengers.</p>



<p>The Sorento has always been popular with
customers looking for practical third-row seating, and the new model makes life
even easier for rear passengers. Aided by the platform’s longer wheelbase, the
second-row seats now slide up to 45 mm further, creating a wider point of entry
to the third row with more space for feet and legs. There is also a new grab
handle built into the interior trim inside the C-pillar, giving third-row
passengers something to hold on to as they climb aboard. Once seated, the
third-row armrest has also been extended by 100 mm for greater elbow support,
while incorporating a cupholder and smartphone tray.</p>



<p><strong>Powertrains</strong></p>



<p><strong>Sorento electrified for the first time
with efficient new hybrid powertrains</strong></p>



<p>Kia’s newest SUV will be available with hybrid
power – a first for a Sorento – and buyers will eventually able to choose from hybrid
or plug-in hybrid variants.</p>



<p>The Sorento Hybrid is powered by a new
‘Smartstream’ electrified powertrain, pairing a 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged
gasoline direct injection) with a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack and
44.2 kW electric motor. The intelligent packaging of the Sorento’s new platform
means the battery pack can be located under the floor, with minimal impact on
cabin or luggage space.</p>



<p>Producing 230 ps and 350 Nm torque, this
electrified powertrain combines low CO<sub>2</sub> emissions with high levels
of performance. The new 1.6-litre T-GDi engine features Kia’s new Continuously
Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology, regulating valve opening time
according to driving conditions, instead of operating on a fixed opening time.
This boosts performance at low-to-mid engine speeds and enhances fuel
efficiency. </p>



<p>Power is sent through the six-speed
automatic transmission via a transmission-mounted electrical device, allowing
the full power of the engine and motor to be transferred in parallel with
minimal loss of energy. The result is immediacy in acceleration response at any
speed, with direct access to available battery power at higher speeds.</p>



<p>The Sorento Hybrid will go on-sale in
select European markets from launch, with others to follow later in 2020. The
new Sorento will also be available as a Plug-in Hybrid variant from late in
2020.</p>



<p>The Sorento’s new four-cylinder 2.2-litre
‘Smartstream’ diesel engine is also available for European customers, producing
202 ps and 440 Nm torque. With a new aluminium block, 19.5 kg lighter than the
cast iron block of its predecessor, the new engine is 38.2 kg lighter compared
to that found in the third-generation Sorento. Furthermore, it is paired with
Kia’s new eight-speed wet double-clutch transmission (8DCT). Designed to offer
the smooth shifting characteristics of a conventional automatic, the 8DCT enhances
fuel efficiency over a conventional eight-speed automatic,
depending on application.</p>



<p>Fuel efficiency and emissions data for the Sorento’s
new powertrains will be announced closer to the car’s European on-sale date
later in 2020.</p>



<p><strong>Ride and handling </strong></p>



<p><strong>A more enjoyable, satisfying drive and
enhanced all-terrain capability</strong></p>



<p>The first-generation Sorento (2002-2009)
was based on a ladder-frame chassis, with the second-generation model
(2009-2015) – the first monocoque-based Sorento – marking a step change in the
car’s on-road behaviour. Now, the new platform represents a similar leap
forward, engineered to maximise driving stability in all environments.</p>



<p>The car now delivers an even more assured,
comfortable ride and more satisfying, enjoyable driving character than its
predecessor, aided by heavily revised fully-independent suspension. Engineers
have sought to reduce the effect that road surface imperfections have on the
body, and to reduce noise and vibrations through the suspension, while also improving
body control and steering responses under cornering. This has been achieved
with a series of geometry changes and new components, as well as improvements
to the structure of the suspension system. The 35 mm longer wheelbase also
contributes to an overall improvement in cruising comfort, while the new
bodyshell – with a 4% average increase to tensile strength throughout its
structure – also results in lower body vibrations.</p>



<p>New for the fourth generation, the latest
Sorento model offers enhanced all-terrain capability over its forebears thanks
to a new Terrain Mode. Paired with the optional all-wheel drive system, Terrain
Mode makes the Sorento more capable in mud, snow and sand. With each mode
selectable from a dial on the centre console, Terrain Mode carefully controls
the car’s standard electronic stability control (ESC), as well as the distribution
of torque to all four wheels. It also adapts transmission shift times to help
the car find and maintain traction in a range of driving environments.</p>



<p><strong>Technology</strong></p>



<p><strong>The most high-tech Kia ever: new
connectivity and infotainment features</strong></p>



<p>The
Sorento is the most high-tech Kia car ever made, thanks to a suite of
technologies that enhance safety, connectivity and infotainment. The range of
available features are designed to make travelling safer and less stressful
while providing total ease of use.</p>



<p>Depending on specification, the cabin incorporates
Kia’s latest 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering audio-visual
navigation, and a new 12.3-inch high-resolution digital instrument cluster.
Combined, the two twin digital displays deliver information to the driver with
absolute clarity. An 8.0-inch display audio
system is also available as standard, while all infotainment systems enable
full, seamless smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™.</p>



<p>The new Sorento also offers Kia’s innovative UVO
Connect telematics system, connecting drivers by providing invaluable
information via the in-car touchscreen and on their smartphone. Featuring Kia
Live services and accessible through the optional 10.25-inch LCD widescreen,
the system displays live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of
interest, and details of potential on- and off-street parking (including price, location and parking availability). UVO Connect
also enables drivers to send route directions to their car before a journey,
and check the location of their vehicle at any time.</p>



<p>The infotainment system also
allows Bluetooth smartphone pairing for two phones concurrently, enabling separate
phones to be used for, for instance, phone calls and music, while front
passengers can also plug in their mobile devices via two USB chargers. For second-row passengers, two USB
charging sockets are integrated into the backs of the two front seats, with a third
found at the rear of the front-row centre console. Both third-row passengers
also have their own charging points, meaning all seven passengers can keep
their mobile device charged – the perfect measure to maintain harmony in a full
car during longer journeys.</p>



<p>The Sorento is also available with a head-up
display, which projects driving information onto the base of the
windscreen in the driver’s line of sight. The system displays alerts from the car’s numerous driver assistance technologies,
details of vehicle speed, and turn-by-turn navigation instructions.</p>



<p>A powerful 12-speaker BOSE® surround-sound
audio system is also available, delivering a more immersive sound to all three
rows. A new ‘Sound of Nature’ ambient sound function
for certain markets enables occupants to select from a range of relaxing
natural soundscapes. The cabin’s Mood Lighting system lets users tailor the
cabin even further, with the interior illuminated in one of seven pre-set
‘core’ colours selected specifically by Kia interior designs, or from a full
gamut of 64 colours.</p>



<p><strong>Safety</strong></p>



<p><strong>Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
with new Remote Smart Parking Assist</strong></p>



<p>The Sorento offers higher levels of active and
passive safety than many of its rivals thanks to an enhanced range of driver
assistance systems. Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) help to reduce
many of the inherent hazards and stresses of driving, protecting occupants and
other road users on every journey.</p>



<p>Depending
on specification, the ADAS range in the new Sorento includes Kia’s latest Forward
Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) technology with pedestrian, cyclist and
vehicle detection. This also detects oncoming traffic when making a turn at a
junction. The Sorento is also available with Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM),
Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Blind-spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Intelligent
Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop&;Go (SCC) and Navigation-based
SCC (NSCC), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and
Highway Driving Assist (HDA). </p>



<p>Kia’s
‘level two’ autonomous driving technology, Lane Following Assist (LFA),
controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the vehicles in front.
LFA operates between speeds of 0 and 180 kph, using camera and radar sensors to
maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while monitoring road markings
to keep the Sorento in the centre of its lane.</p>



<p>The
new Sorento also features a Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Reverse Parking
Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA) and Rear Cross-traffic Collision-Avoidance
Assist (RCCA). In addition, it is also the first Kia available in Europe with
the company’s new Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA), which enables drivers to
move their car autonomously out of a front-and-back parking space remotely with
their key fob. This is designed to make it easier for passengers to get in and
out of the car in tight parking spaces, or if another driver parks too close to
access any of the doors. RSPA brakes the Sorento automatically if it detects another
car, cyclist or pedestrian behind the vehicle or crossing behind it. The
Sorento’s Safe Exit Assist feature also prevents rear doors from opening if the
vehicle detects a hazard approaching from behind, such as a cyclist or another
vehicle.</p>



<p>The Sorento is fitted with up to seven airbags (dual front
airbags, dual front seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags with
rollover sensor, and front centre airbag). The front centre airbag, a new
innovation, provides additional head protection for front-seat occupants and is
designed to prevent their heads coming into contact during a collision. All
Sorento models are equipped as standard with Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management
(VSM) and Electronic Stability Control systems to help drivers maintain control
under braking and cornering.</p>



<p>The
new Sorento also implements Kia’s first Multi-Collision Brake system, which
enables the Sorento to mitigate the severity of secondary collisions. It
automatically applies vehicle brakes when the airbags have been deployed after
an initial collision, further protecting occupants from secondary frontal or
side impacts.</p>



<p>The
Sorento’s body is made up of a blend of steel and aluminium, maximising
torsional rigidity while keeping weight low. The bodyshell construction
features a higher proportion of Advanced High-Strength Steel and hot-stamped
steel components than its predecessor. The blend of High-Strength Steel
enhances occupant safety, giving it torsional rigidity 12.5% higher than the
perceived ‘safety leader’ in the Sorento’s segment – yet the strengthening to
the bodyshell construction renders it 5.6% (21.3 kg) lighter than that of its
predecessor. Furthermore, the more rigid bodyshell reduces road vibrations in
everyday use.</p>



<p><strong>Production and quality</strong></p>



<p><strong>Manufactured in Korea</strong></p>



<p>Like its
predecessor, the new Sorento will be built for Europe
and many other markets at Kia’s Hwasung manufacturing facility in Korea. The
car will also be built for North America at Kia’s West Point, Georgia, USA
production plant.</p>



<p>European sales are due to commence in the
third quarter of 2020; the car will be available to order in most of Kia’s
global markets by the end of the year. It will be sold in Europe with Kia’s
unique seven-year, 150,000-kilometre warranty as standard.</p>

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