Kia announces that it will build the all-new Kia Sorento at its US manufacturing plant, located in Georgia.

Introduced in 2002, the original Kia Sorento midsize SUV marked a huge step forward for Kia Motors, challenging established brands and beginning the process of changing perceptions of Kia Motors as solely a maker of small cars.

That process will continue with the arrival of the all-new Kia Sorento CUV, which is scheduled to begin rolling off the assembly line at Kia’s first U.S. plant – Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) in West Point, Georgia – later this year, and offers improved fuel economy and more passenger room and seating capacity than the previous model.

As Kia Motors America continues to make dramatic market share gains in the U.S., the new Kia Sorento will continue the brand’s design-led evolution, following the recent introduction of several dynamically styled vehicles including the Soul urban passenger vehicle, the Forte compact sedan, and Kia’s first-ever two-door coupe, the Forte Koup.

“It will be a historic milestone when the first Sorento rolls off the assembly line at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia later this year,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, KMA. “Our first domestically built vehicle, the all-new Sorento will be built by team members who have undergone rigorous training and who have great pride in their newly learned skills.”

Styled by a global team headed by Kia Motors’ Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, the longer and lower 2011 Sorento brings sleek styling and a futuristic touch to the world of the urban CUV.

Following Kia Motors’ core philosophies of providing value, safety, warranty and fun to the driving experience, the all-new Kia Sorento will offer an all-new design inside and out, a host of standard safety features, two- and four-wheel drive options and a variety of upscale appointments to appeal to a wide range of consumers. [Source: Kia]