2010 Kia Sorento XM teaser image
Kia Motors has released the first official image of it’s next generation Sorento crossover, codenamed XM, today. In addition to that, the company has also revealed some details on it’s second generation Sorento crossover.
The 2010 Kia Sorento will build on the success of the current model by offering a fresh new exterior look, the whole new interior design and an array of fuel-efficient technologies, including a brand-new 2.2L diesel engine (R-engine) developed in conjunction with Hyundai Motor Company.
New engines
The all-new 2.2L R-engine unit brings in the latest diesel engine technology and consecutively, the the world class performance, class-leading fuel economy numbers and achieves the EURO-5 compliancy. It features a third generation common rail system with piezo-electric injectors to deliver fuel at 1800-bar and an electronic variable geometry turbocharger and is coupled with a diesel particulate filter.
The 2.2L R-engine packs impressive 200 horsepower and 435Nm of torue and has an estimated fuel economy of 14,1L/km or 33MPG (7l/100km)! That makes the new Sorento even more fuel-efficient than i’s smaller sibling, the Sportage compact SUV!
Power will also come from a variety of other diesel and gasoline engines, including the 2.4L four-cylinder (Theta II) engine and the 3.8L six-cylinder (Lambda) engine that produces 270+ horsepower. Kia also plans to introduce the new Sorento with a 2.7L LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection) engine on Korean market.
Unibody platform
New generation Sorento will feature a six-speed automatic transmission, also developed together with Hyundai. The same fuel-saving six-speed tranny will be applied to majority of future Kia vehicles to come in the near future.
Another major technical change that comes together with the new tranny and engine will be the unibody architecture, which will replace the existing body-on-frame platform, meaning the ride and handling will be improved dramatically.
The 2010 Kia Sorento is set to go on sale in Korea shortly after it makes an official Korean unveiling, scheduled for the upcoming Seoul Motor Show in April, while it’s US sales is expected to commence by the end of this year.
UPDATE: production ready Kia Sorento: 2010 Kia Sorento
February 18th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Looking good!
February 18th, 2009 at 8:13 am
looks likes the 2010 lexus rx in the front
February 18th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Sexy
February 18th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Most important: what will be it’s towing capacity?
February 18th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
wonder if it’ll be renamed…
February 18th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Can;t see much there at all at the moment, except maybe that huge ‘D’ pillar, but I guess it’s the start of a flood of info we should expect in the next couple of months. If it’s any good with it’s off-road capabilities and a reasonable towing capacity, I’m getting one. Now, I don’t want a rock climber, just reasonable off-road, with good ground clearance etc.
February 18th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
send more pix
February 18th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Bornloser, KMB says 2.800 kg
February 18th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I can forward the mail if you like
February 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I tried adjusting the exposure but I think kia has done some editing to make sure things in darkness remain dark… that is, only the tail lights
February 18th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Confirmed: 2010 Kia “XM” will be at 2009 New York International Auto Show. Will debut in Seoul 4 days prior to debuting in USA. I’ll be @ New York for the debut of it.
February 18th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Blah, just another station wagon.
February 18th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I have seen the Sorento 2010 in person in Namyang, and it looks very clean, sexy and mature… It surely has the touches of Peter Schreyer and will be sales success. Remember, this will be the first vehicle produced at the Kia Georgia (US) plant. Kia has another winner in its hands.
February 18th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
So far, I love the look of the new Sorento! Lately I have been really impressed by Kias technical improvements. Their engines are highly advanced ones and provide leading hp and fuel consumption numbers. Can’t wait to see the rest of the vehicle!!
February 18th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Himi- it says the diesel (R-engine) is a 2.0L engine in the first section, then a 2.2L later. Is the 2.2L displacement the correct number? Also- is that engine for the European market, or worldwide? I’m hoping we’ll see a diesel in the USA at some point in the near future…
February 18th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Looks good though I will miss the off raod abilities of the current model. Performance figures for the diesel engine are impressive.
February 18th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Two teasers (XM and YN) and one more to come (VG). Nice teaser by the way. It looks like a better lookiing Toyota Venza but more aggressive and muscular. And that’s a good thing.
February 18th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
2.2 is the correct displacement, and the R engine is the first to comply with US regulations. Yes, the 2.2L R diesel will be available for purchase in the USA. The Wheels are pretty sexy on this Sorento. I see that the fuel door is on the driver’s side this time. And yeah himi, 33 MPG is like 10 better than the Sportage on the highway. What’s sad is that the 2.4 Theta II has more horsepower than Sportage’s 2.7 Delta V6. Engines available in the USA for this new Sorento will be:
LX – 2.2 I4 (diesel) or 2.4 I4; FWD only
EX – 2.2 I4 (diesel) or 3.3 V6; AWD optional
SX – 3.8 V6; AWD standard
I wouldn’t bet on this, but this is the speculation I have heard.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:12 am
It’ll be interesting to see the configuration of the new 6 speed tranny. My son has a Toyota V8 Diesel Land Cruiser with a 6 speed auto trans and it doesn’t drop into 6th until it reaches about 100 to 110kph. Even with the huge 650Nm of torque it has available at 2000rpm. The reason being, not to overload the engine and transmission at too low a revs. So I would imagine the new Sorento being the same or at least similar.
It will be good to see you guys in the US get the diesel option at last. Hardly any of the “real” 4W’Drivers or even caravaners, here in Australia, would use a petrol engine in their 4WD, and thats apart from the huge cost of filling it up with petrol a lot more often than the diesel.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:45 am
No diesels in the US as of right now.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:02 am
It amazes me that the US has a 50 state ban on the use of diesel engines in “family” cars??? I gather, when all the heavy transport industry, both truck and rail must use them and buses should be thrown in the mix as well. But I must admit Harry I don’t know your rules and regulations over there, so maybe I shouldn’t comment at all.
Also getting back to Greg, I have just read on another site that the 2010 Sorento may have it’s world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, early next month. Maybe the New York Motor Show in April is just for the North American release??
February 19th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Sorento won’t make it in time for Geneva. Diesel WILL be available right away is what I’ve heard. It should arrive in dealerships in December-January.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:47 am
well, then the fact that it’ll not be ready on the date as previously planned means that even our launch date in UAE has been pushed back. was supposed to be July.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:53 am
OzyTone, there is no ban on diesels in family cars here in the states. The Jetta diesel is available and has been a hit so far. Mercedes also offers quite a few diesels and Nissan will offer one in the Maxima soon. We just have high emission regulations on diesel engines. As for the Sorento getting a diesel I’ll have to see it to believe it. The info would have to come from Kia not some salesman either as they usually know NOTHING we don’t know.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Oh yeah, forgot to say that this looks HOT! Can’t wait to see more.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:10 am
Salesman hear a lot of rumors. Some are true, some are not. Like there was this rumor going around last year that Kia was going to drop Amanti in mid 2008. If it is something about a not-yet-released vehicle, you can’t really trust a salesman. You have to hear it from corporate.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:12 am
Its a matter of getting EPA certified and what the market bears, most US citizens have never owned or operated a diesel. I still would like to know who Greg’s source is?
February 19th, 2009 at 6:15 am
LOL-Kia salesmen usually know NOTHING more than we know! That cracks me up, but, I do think it be truth. Great new Sorento, great ghastly mileage with the 2.2 diesel, too. Yeah, I had a 2001 Sportage 4 X 4 with the 2.0L 4 banger, 5-speed manual, and I could barely squeak 24-25 highway miles per gallon and 17-18 miles per gallon in town wid it.
February 19th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Now, I had better update myself on the modern language here Bryan. Do you mean “great ghastly mileage” as being good in this case?? or is it “ghastly” as in the usual meaning of the word, meaning terrible??
Remember, I’m at least over 30 and I haven’t totally caught up with words “fully sic”, meaning great, fantastic, etc. Where back a few years ago that meant you were sick as a dog….errrr, unwell.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Hey OzyTone, don’t feel bad. I’m 21, and I’ve never heard “ghastly” used in any other way than to mean “bad.” *shrugs*
February 19th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
JASON: The 2.2L is correct displacement. The R engine does, however, also come as a 2.0L. The 2.0L will be integrated to the 2010 Sportage, while the 2.2 has been reserved for Sorento.
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No plans to bring it to the US, unfortunately!
February 19th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I have also heard it may be first shown at the Seoul Motor Show in April, which would make a lot of sense, a nice home-town release of this beautiful looking vehicle.
Oh yeah, and while you’re there Himi, will this vehicle get it’s own web-site, like the Soul, or haven’t you given it much thought as yet. I guess the Soul was a completely new vehicle, where the Sorento is “just” a major facelift. As I’ve let it be known before, I like it all on one site, but I do have the Kia Soul Forum site on my favorites list and so I do peek in occasionally.
February 19th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
the soul was just an exciting car from Kia which was different cuz of its customizability. and also the Halo car of Kia. thats probably why it got its own forum. how many sites could himi manage? there r afterall a huge line of kias staring at the production line, thinking of the day when its species can roll down it.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Does anyone knows what will be the bolt pattern of the wheels..?
February 19th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
ther r 5 on this one
February 20th, 2009 at 2:05 am
I just received my first shipment of Souls! I have an Alien !, a Silver Sport, and a White base
February 20th, 2009 at 2:45 am
Ok. I’m now confused. I just read from a few articles that this Sorento is going to be shown in Geneva. What’s really going on because it is sort of strange that they would show a teaser two months before April when the YN is supposed to be the center of attention right now.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Ozytone this is a completely different vehicle from the current sorento, no makeover there. I bet they will have a new name for it?
February 20th, 2009 at 3:20 am
Himi and I have both heard now that it won’t be in Geneva. Just be patient. Seoul is the 3rd day of April, which is JUST over one month away. Kid Icarus – Could you please post some pictures of your Souls in the gallery? Williams ordered 38 Souls. Too bad that isn’t enough to satisfy demand.
February 20th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Kid what dealership?
February 20th, 2009 at 5:32 am
OzyTone-that’s a little word game of mine, I have called gasoline “ghastly” for ages, at least 25 years. It means bad as to how much it costs. Even when gas prices are lower I still call gasoline “ghastly”, because you know and I know that it’s price is always going to go back up again, right?
February 20th, 2009 at 7:14 am
Thanks for the tips from both you boys, Harry and Bryan.
But Harry again first. Yes I agree with you the new model is more than a face-lift, bit I guess there’s been other vehicles that have gone from body on frame construction to uni-body construction and have kept the original names. The main ones that spring to mind are the Mitsubishi Pajero, the Land Rover, I think now are a monocoque construction, where the original series 1, 2, and 3 had a ladder chassis and I guess closer to home for you guys in the States, the Jeep Cherokee (Liberty), weren’t they were originally BOF, but now are unitary construction. I guess my point being the original names were kept, but most of those named above are classic 4WD’s aren’t they.
Now Bryan. Yes the price of gasoline has just risen in the past couple of weeks or so, but stupidly, here in Australia we are linked to the price of of oil in Singapore??? and the other funny thing is that diesel is now cheaper than unleaded at the moment, where 6 months or so back it was 30 cents (Aust) a litre dearer, and more sometimes.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Pajero and Landrovers are monocoque?
February 20th, 2009 at 9:24 am
They are now, that’s what I’m saying. The real early model…..before you were born, were not!!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Sorry Boris, I’m willing to concede on the Pajero. You are right, Mitsubishi changed from a solid rear axle to IRS a few years back, didn’t they. Yes you’re right they’ve always been monocoque haven’t they.
Sorry mate.
February 20th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I dunno bout pajero. but I think the Land Rover defender uses ladder frme. Range Rover and Discovery [LR3] and LR2 are mono.
February 20th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Lee Johnson Kia near the Seattle, WA area
February 20th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Greg – I uploaded a couple pics of the Silver Soul Sport in the Soul forums….check them out.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
OK, you are near P.O.E., that’s why you are getting them already. Thanks for the pics, it looks great.
February 20th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
If possible, could you upload some pics of the Soul + in Alien? I have a customer that wants one, and she would like to see some actual pics.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Greg – I will have pics of the Alien Soul up shortly
February 20th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Greg – Alien Soul pics are up in the Soul Forum
February 21st, 2009 at 6:59 am
Kid, I know where thats at, what do you do there? Sales or Service?
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:51 am
Everything
February 27th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
these rims actually look good now. we had sen the same in another spy shot but didn’t like it. my name is linked to those spy shots.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I looking how mush it’s wiegh
November 6th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
like the look of new model but as usual uk mkt is being shafted , namely engine size and fuel type , wake up kia we want dual fuel version and 2.4 diesel , and is glass roof optional , its not required if u got ac !!!!!!
May 14th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
just wanted to say hello