Do you notice design differences between images posted today and images posted a few days ago, when we reported about Sportage recieving a mild facelift for 2008 model year!?
Why two different designs? Could this be a U.S. market version? When and if, is this design coming to the market?
There are many questions unanswered right now. But, as soon as we find out what is going on with Sportage, we will let you know! Stay tuned!
Gallery: (click image to enlarge!)
[Photo source: Club.auto.sohu]
More on Sportage: Sportage facelift; part 1!
September 5th, 2007 at 1:15 am
thinking this is the FL to china, in the last picture, the blue sportage, in the left corner of de rear part, say in chinese, dong feng yueda, that’s is the partner of kia motors in china, and i belive that will produce in the new plant in china.
September 5th, 2007 at 9:10 am
You must be right Diego! I heard Kia will soon start selling Sportage in China, so this sheet-metal could be designed for China market only!
To me, it looks much better than European version! What about U.S. market, will there be any changes?
September 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I don’t think so, but when open the new plant in Alabama, maybe start the production of the cee’d for the american market, lotze/magentis/optima and the sportage with a soft changes on the exterior
September 5th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Well, cee’d is not coming to America for sure! It was designed for Europe and will be sold only in Europe! U.S. and other parts of the world will get Spectra replacment coming in 09! Cee’d and new Spectra might share platform and engines, but the design will be different!
It is still not known which models will be built in Kia’s US plant, but yes it could be a Sportage successor!
September 6th, 2007 at 1:26 am
yes i now, but in various motor american sites confirm the xR serie for the cee’d to america (with a supercharger different form european cee’d that it will take a turbo compressor), maybe the replacement to the spectra/cerato for the rest of the world takes the ED plataform and ED quality, and adds the sedan variant.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:49 am
“Turbocharged engines would be aimed at Europe and supercharged engines at the American market because of different customer demands,” the source said (http://www.kia-world.net/index.php/2007/06/12/hot-kias-to-be-called-xr/)
Did you read this?
September 6th, 2007 at 10:52 am
And yes, the new Spectra will come as a sedan and five-door hatchback!