Following the footsteps of Hyundai's surprise debut of the all-new Accent sedan and hatchback, Kia made an unexpected unveiling of the 2011 Sportage SX at the Montreal International Auto Show today, debuting a 2.0-litre turbo gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine that produces 256 horsepower (according to Motor Trend) and is projected to achieve four-cylinder like fuel economy. The new Sportage SX will start at $36,995 (Canadian dollar) and include Kia’s new UVO infotainment technology and additional standard equipment.Kia has not released the full specs of the Sportage SX, but we do know that it will be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It includes a new feature designed to improve fuel economy (Kia's take on start/stop technology) called Neutral Control that effectively shifts the car into neutral when stuck in traffic. The system is triggered when the transmission is in Drive and the brakes have been applied for more than two seconds. An integrated hill assist control prevents any vehicle rollback.
Standard features on the SX include push-button start, panoramic sunroof, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, ventilated driver’s seat, UVO infotainment system, seven-speaker premium sound system, rear spoiler, leather seating and auto-dimming mirror with Homelink.
The 2011 Sportage will be available in LX, EX and SX trim levels, with the LX and EX powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.
[Source: CanadianDriver]
