New Kia Sorento Mountain Sea L9 Debut Marks a Fresh Start for Brand
Kia is set to unveil its latest model, the Sorento Mountain Sea L9, with an expected launch date in April. The newest iteration of the compact SUV promises to deliver a refined appearance while maintaining its core essence.
Upon closer inspection, the updated exterior boasts an entirely new language that reflects its newfound focus on electrified mobility. Gone are the chromium accents; instead, it now features closed-off front faces, giving it a more modern and futuristic feel. Moving forward, the headlights have been reimagined in a split-bodied design with a running cloud-style LED day-time running light array at the top, accompanied by an assemblage of nears and far-range lights below. The forward underside now houses covered air intakes designed to enhance its dynamic persona.
The lateral flanks feature modern multi-spoke wheels paired with muscularly curved wheel arches, enhancing the overall sense of movement across its form. In contrast, at the rear end we have sleek side mounted LED tail-lights imbued with a technological quality that is pleasing on both sight and mind, further solidifying its unique charm. The dimensions span 4911mm in length, 1925mm in width, and 1784mm in height to all of which it sports a 2850 mm ground clearance.
Inside, Kia reworked the dashboard focusing its attention upon central interfaces for the better convenience as well as functionality of its interior, where it replaced traditional steering wheel wraps with aerobatics in design that add visual harmony. Central controls have been relocated towards the driver's side and there's an additional line of physically-tactile keys to enable drivers to turn air conditioning or other functions on/off quickly without turning their gaze from the road ahead. Meanwhile the rest remains unchanged, so we're expecting to see consistent standards regarding premiumness across all facets.
Engines here will likely come out at 1.5 l displacement hybrid petrol-electric hybrid units powered by turbochargers coupled up, giving around a power that outputs in excess of 156 horsepower while its peak torque arrives off the 1000 kg curb mass at 220 Nm; electrically driven there would instead have two independently-powered motors whose total potential deliverance is an output equivalent to some 427 horsepower across its power unit configuration, complemented by a dual-clutch continuously variable (DHT) transmission system - for all practical driving purposes it may however seem quite different from what many accustomed drivers might want their automobile engine systems to be. Battery-life will see electric motors running on CLTC pure electrical charging within the vehicle, which deliver an approximate range of 108km while the hybrid variants provide around a maximum electric power drive capacity equivalent to the former at some 55 kilometers.
According to our insights editor we're looking forward to how this all unfolds from Kia's new product lineup and its potential in the market place - if these projections come true that indeed marks on high mark for Sorentos. For now, stay tuned!
