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Kia to unveil quieter, more luxurious Sorento in Paris
The latest Kia Sorento was presented in South Korea before making its European debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, September 2, 2014.At the Paris Motor Show in October, Kia will stage the European premiere of its third-generation Sorento premium SUV. Recently unveiled in South Korea, the new model offers a more refined style and a quieter ride than the outgoing version.
The front of the new Sorento stands out for its elongated, wrap-around headlights, larger fog lights and oversized “tiger nose” grille, which resembles the one seen on Kia's 2013 Cross GT concept. On the inside, the cargo capacity has been expanded from 515 to 605 litres when the seats are folded down. There is also a brand new storage compartment built directly into the floor of the trunk.
Even more than in the past, the current trend in the premium SUV segment is one towards increasing luxury and refinement, as seen in the latest Volvo XC90, which will also be on display in Paris. The latest Sorento is no exception to the rule, particularly on the interior, with its sleek instrument panel and details in leather and other high-end materials. In Europe, clients will have a choice of a monochrome or two-tone interior (Saturn Black or Saturn Black and Stone), with fabric or leather seats.
A number of optional features will be available in certain markets, such as a parking assistant with a 360° monitor and four cameras, or a smart electronic tailgate that can be opened remotely. The manufacturer also equipped the vehicle with several active safety features, including smart adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision alert, blind spot detection, lane change assistance and speed limit sign recognition.
Finally, Kia is also touting a reduction in noise and vibration from inside the vehicle, namely due to the increased thickness of the dashboard soundproof panel and to larger mounts for the engine and transmission. The result, according to the car maker, is a 3 to 6% decrease in noise and vibration within the cabin.
The new Kia Sorento, available as a 5-seater or 7-seater, will be available with a choice of five engines ranging in output from 172 to 270hp.
The Paris Motor Show takes place from October 4 to 19. – AFP/Relaxnews, September 2, 2014.
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