New Kia Sportage SUV specifications revealed

- Kia's European best seller gets updated with more tech and better engine options for 2018

- Petrol line-up remains the same in the upgraded Sportage, though with minor modifications to emissions

- All in all, there will be 21 variants based on five engines, three gearboxes and six trim lines for the buyers to choose from

One of Kia’s strongest selling models in Europe, the Sportage has been updated for 2018 and the new model is set to take things forward. The new Sportage pairs an updated exterior and interior design with new safety and infotainment technologies.

The car’s new EcoDynamics+ 48V diesel mild-hybrid powertrain is the first to be launched as part of Kia’s global powertrain electrification strategy. With this development, Kia says it has become the first manufacturer to offer hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric and 48-volt mild-hybrid technology across its model line-up. Kia will launch 16 advanced powertrain vehicles by 2025, including five new hybrids, five plug-in hybrids, five battery-electric vehicles and, in 2020, a new fuel-cell electric vehicle.

The line-up of petrol engines remains the same in the upgraded Sportage, though with minor modifications to emissions, with buyers able to choose between two powerplants. Both petrol engines are direct-injection (GDi) 1.6-litre units from Kia's Gamma family are now fitted with new particulate filters to further reduce emissions. The naturally-aspirated 130bhp 1.6-litre GDi engine offers a torque output of 161Nm.

In the Sportage, the T-GDi (Turbocharged Gasoline Direct injection) engine develops 174bhp at 5,500rpm, while maximum torque is 265Nm from 1,500rpm to 4,500rpm. It was developed entirely in-house by Kia engineers at the Namyang research and development centre in Korea, with input from Kia's European technical centre in Frankfurt. All Sportage models equipped with the T-GDi engine are available with either front or all-wheel drive, and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) on all-wheel drive models.

All in all, there are 21 variants based on five engines, three gearboxes and six trim lines. Now that’s a lot of options to choose from. For the Indian market, Kia has announced its plans of building an independent facility in Andhra Pradesh which will be operational by the end of 2019. The Korean car maker will invest close to Rs 7,000 crore to build the facility with an annual production capacity of 3 lakh units. Kia has also announced two cars slated for production in the new facility, a compact sedan and a compact SUV, which fit perfectly into the changing scenario of the car market in India.