Sportage Headlines Kia's Melbourne Show Display

NEW SPORTAGE HEADLINES KIA'S MELBOURNE SHOW DISPLAY

The all-new Sportage will headline Kia's display at the Melbourne International Motor Show (3-14 March 2005) prior to its Australian launch in April, taking Kia back to the market sector from which the Korean car maker sprung to world prominence.

First introduced in 1993, Sportage remains Kia's global best-seller with 568,720 sales, despite the enormous success of models such as Australia's number one people mover, the Kia Carnival, and Australia's top selling diesel van, the Pregio, which will share the limelight with the new Kia Sportage at the Melbourne Motor Show.

The original Sportage endowed Kia with a reputation for building tough, go-anywhere 4WDs and the Kia Sorento added to this a level of style previously unseen from Korea. The new Sportage brings together these two elements to product a stylish, versatile 4WD that is well equipped which offers excellent performance on and off the road.

"The new Sportage is a very important vehicle for Kia in Australia," says Edward Butler, General Manager of Kia Automotive Australia. "The Sportage launched Kia's name in Australia and with the new model we will be returning to what is a highly important market sector with a new model that is bound to set new standards in a wide range of benchmark tests."

Compared to competitors in its class the Sportage boasts a longer wheelbase as well as larger overall exterior width and height dimensions. It also outclasses the competition in terms of interior dimensions, with more leg room, second row seating headroom, and total interior volume allowing for maximum cargo space and storage. The new Kia Sportage will be launched in Australia initially with a 2.7 litre V6 that produces 131 kW at 6,000 rpm with maximum torque of 242 Nm at 4,000 rpm matched to a Tiptronic-style automatic gearbox as standard. The four wheel drive system is a torque on demand drivetrain that operates normally in front wheel drive but which switches automatically and instantly to four wheel drive the moment there is any wheelspin. Four wheel drive may also be manually selected for difficult driving conditions.

From a functional standpoint, the Sportage offers spare tyre placement under the cargo area floor, convenient upward swing hatch and flip-up tailgate glass, and ergonomically designed centre fascia with driver-friendly control placement. Seating is designed to allow for multiple variations with its full-flat front seats, fold and dive type rear seats for maximum cargo space, and seat split function for storage of large cargo items.

The Kia Sportage will be launched in Australia in April when full pricing and specification details will be announced.

Sharing the Kia stand with the new Sportage at the Melbourne International Motor Show will be Australia's third-placed top selling small car, the Kia Rio, the newly launched Kia Cerato, the Kia Optima and the range topping - and award winning - Kia Sorento.

Technical Specifications of the new Kia Sportage Power Train 2.7 Engine Displacement (cc) 2,656 Max. power (kW/rpm) 131/6,000 Max. torque (Nm/rpm) 242/4,000 Transmission Transmission 5-Speed Manual & 4-Speed Automatic Drive type Full time 4WD BRAKES General Power-Assist Braking System Front 381 ventilated disk Rear 284 solid disk SUSPENSION Front Macpherson Strut Type Rear Dual Link Type WHEEL & TYRE Wheel Alloy Wheel 6.5J × 16 Tyre 215/65R 16 DIMENSIONS(?) Exterior Overall length 4,350 Overall width 1,800 Overall height 1,695 Wheel base 2,630 Interior Length 1,785 Width 1,490 Height 1,225

THE FULL KIA RANGE

Kia Rio sedan and hatchback The Kia Rio is value for money motoring at its easiest, with it's the versatile five door or the spacious sedan. Both are comprehensively equipped with power steering, electric front windows, electric mirrors, central locking, air conditioning and CD player and with driveaway pricing budgeting for ownership could not be easier. Rio hatch 1.5 litre 16V 5 door hatch Manual $14,990 drive away Rio hatch 1.5 litre 16V 5 door hatch Automatic $16,990 drive away Rio sedan 1.5 litre 16V 4 door sedan Manual $14,990 drive away Rio sedan 1.5 litre 16V 4 door sedan Automatic $16,990 drive away

Kia Rio Cerato The all-new Kia Cerato brings a new level of value for money to the Australian car market with its $18,990 pricing including such luxuries as cruise control as standard. Its 2.0 litre engine offers punchy performance, its chassis a smooth and comfortable ride, all of which is contained in a stylish and refined sedan body. With so many credits in its account, it is no wonder that demand for the Cerato has set new sales records for Kia. Cerato 2.0 litre Manual 4 Door Sedan $18,990 drive away Cerato 2.0 litre Auto 4 door Sedan $20,990 drive away

Kia Optima There is only one version of the Kia Optima because this is the luxury sedan that has redefined the V6 sedan market with its unique combination of an opulent equipment list and value for money price. Leather trimmed interior, wood lined dashboard, tiptronic style auto gearbox, power steering, mirrors, windows, locks, aerial and a six speaker audio system are all standard, along with a silky smooth V6 engine and elegant styling. Optima 2.7 litre V6 4 door sedan Automatic $27,950 drive away

Kia Sorento With its reputation for building real world, rugged, go anywhere off road vehicles, it is no surprise that Kia should produce a 4WD as capable as the Kia Sorento or that it should offer such a complete value for money package. The fact that it has the looks to rival its European competitors sets the Sorento on a new level and explains its sales success since its launch. Sorento 3.5 litre V6 5 door 4WD Manual $35,950 drive away Sorento 3.5 litre V6 5 door 4WD Automatic $37,950 drive away

Kia Carnival Before the Carnival arrived in Australia, people movers were effectively luxury cars, beyond the reach of the very people who needed them the most, typical Australian families. The Carnival, with its seven seats, V6 engine and $29,990 price changed everything and the well equipped, versatile Carnival has been rewarded with the title of Australia's most popular people mover with families. 2004 Carnival 2.5 litre V6 5 door MPV Manual $29,990 Driveaway 2004 Carnival 2.5 litre V6 5 door MPV Automatic $32,500 Driveaway

Kia Pregio Straight to number One. That's what the Kia Pregio did at its Australian launch; it instantly became Australia's number one diesel van. Kia clearly recognized that a van has to work for its living and it has to make money, not cost money. That's why there is one fully equipped version, with a frugal diesel engine, why there is a comprehensive warranty with roadside assistance and why the Pregio is now a common sight right across Australia Pregio 2.7 litre diesel 1.2 tonne van Manual $23,990

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