2010 Kia Sorento SUV: Official Sketches, Debut set for April

In addition to the teaser photo released earlier in February, Kia has issued two new renderings along with initial details of its forthcoming 2010 Sorento SUV. The Korean automaker said that the second-generation Sorento, codenamed XM, is set for launch in April, meaning that it will most likely make its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show. The teaser sketches reveal that the new model will follow the 2007 Kue concept car's edgy and chiseled lines while it will also feature Kia's new corporate grille.

Kia Motors Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer said, "The dynamic design of XM adopts simple linear lines to lend a powerful, yet polished appearance. Sporty and striking, XM represents a new breed of SUV."

The 2010 Sorento will most likely offer buyers the option of adding a third row of seats, increasing passenger capacity to seven.

The new Sorento will become the first Hyundai-Kia vehicle to come equipped with the firm's all-new environmentally-friendly passenger diesel R-engine. The 2.2-liter 4-cylinder unit produces an output of 200-horsepower. According to Kia, when hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the new Sorento 2.2R will have a combined fuel consumption of 7.1lt / 100km or 33.2mpg US.

Kia also plans to satisfy diverse consumer tastes by offering the model with a 2.4 gasoline and a 2.7 LPI (Liquified Petroleum Gas ) engine. The Korean carmaker claims that this makes Kia XM the first vehicle in the world to run on all three fuel types.

Sales of the new Sorento are expected to commence in Korea this spring, with the rest of the world following in late 2009 and early 2010.

Source: Kia , Via: Kia-World