The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Behold the bold Kia Sorento
KIA has revealed the first official images of its all-new Sorento, ahead of its public appearance at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show. The concept is ‘refined boldness’ and the aim of Kia’s designers was to maintain the robust, tough-looking aesthetic of earlier generations of the car, while applying a greater degree of refinement and elegance.
This means the Sorento incorporates sharper lines and uninterrupted surfaces, making it noticeably more sculpted than its more round-edged predecessor. There are also more contemporary geometric details and swept-back, elongated proportions.
The assertive ‘face’ of the Sorento evolves, too, with a new interpretation of Kia’s hallmark ‘tiger nose’ grille. Wider and more expansive, it wraps around the integrated headlamps on each side.
The headlamps feature a new ‘tiger eye’ LED daytime running light. Kia says this adds extra focus to the design by depicting the intense impression of the lines around a tiger’s eyes.
In profile, the proportions are subtly adapted to make it appear longer, with shorter front and rear overhangs and a longer wheelbase. Its new proportions also extend the length of the bonnet, drawing the A-pillar 30mm further back from the front axle for a more ‘cab-rearward’ design.
The trailing edge of the hood wraps around the front wings and turns into a single line extending along the side and flowing into the new vertical tail lights.
The Sorento sits at the heart of Kia’s reinvigorated SUV line-up, which also includes the Seltos, Stonic, Sportage, and Telluride.
The new model is the result of a collaborative effort between all three studios within the company’s global design network, in Korea, Europe and North America.
A fourth-generation, it is based on an all-new platform, raising standards in the mid-size SUV segment for space, practicality, efficiency and quality.
The new Sorento will make its debut at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show on 3 March 3. The UK specifications, pricing and on-sale date are expected to be announced in due course.