Posted on Wednesday 30 April 2008
Soaring fuel prices and shifting demand towards smaller cars hasn’t deterred Hyundai from developing a new fullsize SUV as these latest images of a prototype testing in Germany reveal. Hyundai has been planning to launch a fullsize SUV ever since it revealed the Kia Mesa concept at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. Back then SUVs were at the height of their popularity and nobody was predicting the price of oil would skyrocket within the next couple of years.
Tipped to be unveiled late next year as a 2010, the new Hyundai SUV will be sold in both the U.S. and Europe and should be about the same size as the BMW X5 - a rebadged version will be sold as the Kia Sorrento. It will be able to seat seven passengers all up and will be available with Hyundai’s familiar 260hp 3.8L Lambda V6 as standard. A range topper with the new 4.6L Tau V8 mated to a six-speed automatic could also be on offer but don’t expect to see the flagship engine in the Kia version.
Kia will beat Hyundai to market with its own Sorrento set to go on sale early next year and we could even see the new model in full production trim late this year,
This could actually turn out to be a pretty good vehicle. Too bad it’s late to the game. But better late than never, ’cause the demand for SUVs will still be there, albeit with less enthusiasm.
That is the new Kia Sorento. It has that massive Kue grille.
This is actually confirmed to be the 2010 Kia Sorento!
It confirmed that this is the next sorento. Hyundai has got the veracruz and they dont have any reason to get another large SUV on the market. this one has got Kia’s new angular lights and Kue’s grille. It has to be sorento.