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Kia Sorento (2009): spy photos
By
Ben Whitworth
Spyshots
08 August 2008 12:46
It’s all change for Kia’s Sorento off-road flagship. Snapped here undergoing initial towing and endurance tests in Arizona, the next generation Sorento is expected to debut late next year at the Frankfurt motor show, before arriving in the UK at the end of 2009. The next-generation Sorento gets new styling, a chassis overhaul and a range of punchy new turbodiesel engines.
Tell me more about the new Kia Sorento
In a bid to boost its on-road appeal the new Sorento will switch from a ladder-frame chassis to a monocoque set-up, promising sharper driving dynamics and greater body control for a more composed ride. Insiders claim the new Sorento will be much less of a mud-plugger and more of a crossover.
Although Kia is considering a number of drivetrain options for its biggest off-roader, it’s understood the Sorento will stick with its permanent all-wheel-drive layout, with a part-time 4x4 system arriving later in 2010. The switch to a monocoque will impact on the car’s towing abilities (hence the towing tests) which will drop from the current car’s 3500kg to around 2700kg. Still plenty for horseboxes, boats and… ahem… caravans.
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