Kia Unveils All-New 2018 Kia Sportage in Nigeria

…Opens the Biggest Service Centre in the Country

ROTIMI ASHER

Kia Motors Nigeria has taken the wraps off the all-new 2018 Kia Sportage at a launching and media parley with the motoring journalists, held last week Thursday, at its showroom, in Victoria Island, Lagos.

2018 Kia Sportage being unveiled into the Nigerian market, Thursday, 4th May 2017 (Copyright: Motoring World International)

The event was keyed into the on-going solo art exhibition organised by Arthouse, an organization partnering with Kia Motors.

Continuing the success of its predecessor model, the all-new Sportage has been revamped with innovative and sophisticated package and premium technology features.

Styling

The car features styling changes, highlighting striking, bold appearance and gives an ultimate visual appeal.

Adorned with the Kia’s hallmark “tiger-nose” grille, HID headlights, LED fog lamps, LED taillights and 17-inch wheels, the new Sportage comes with an increased overall length and stretched, while its width remains the same.

The 2018 Sportage is longer than the old model by 1.6 inches, and wider in wheelbase by 1.2 inches, all of which translates to more room in the back and a bit lower floor, making for easier entry.

The new model combines sportiness and style with distinctive and innovative design and truly striking features that offers pure refinement, commanding side profile, muscular stance, sculpted front bonnet and the Kia distinctive signature grill, which  gives the Sportage an unmistakably sporty appearance.

Power

To ensure enhanced efficiency and performance, the new Sportage rolled out with updated Engines and transmissions. Under the hood, it has a 2.0 litre engine on the LX and EX with 185hp and 237Nm of torque.

Interior

To improve comfort and convenience of the passengers and drivers, the new interior is significantly upgraded with high quality materials and modern design.

More than that, the new generation Sportage comes with more passenger room and cargo volume, while distinctive design and head-turning features like sleek upper dash, soft-touch materials, especially leather seats with grey stitching, make this ultra-athletic car hard to miss.

L-R: Mr Suresh Mordani, Corporate Sales Manager; Olawale Jimoh, Marketing Manager; and Mr. Olu Tikolo, Vice President, Kia Motors Nigeria, at the media parley and 2018 Kia Sportage launch held in Lagos , Thursday, 4th May 2017 (Copyright: Motoring World Intl.)

The uniquely configured cabin, spacious dimensions and reclining rear seats make things as comfy for the passengers as well as the driver. For a guaranteed flexibility, the Sportage’s seats are also able to move and fold to create an almost flat floor.

Safety

With an inspiring technology for new levels of safety, the new Sportage offers a whole new dimension of technological assistance to ensure manoeuvrability with peace-of-mind and comfort.

The SUV comes with Auto Cruise Control (ACC) Parking Assist System (PAS) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) technology Cutting-edge technology for maximum driving stability, the automatically engaging all-wheel drive (AWD) system senses road conditions, wheel speed and acceleration, then applies the right amount of torque to the front and rear wheels for optimum road grip.

Its chassis and cabin are said to be constructed with 51% of Advanced High Strength Steel and hot-stamped steel (AHSS), which, according to its maker, make the all-new Sportage stronger and lighter with benefits that include better handling and improved fuel efficiency.

Speaking during the unveil, Vice President, Kia Motors Nigeria, Olu Tikolo,  expressed belief that aesthetic improvements in design and functionality of the car would once again accelerate Kia’s market progress and open a brand new chapter in the company’s history of pioneering the compact urban SUV segment.

“The anticipation and excitement for the fourth generation Sportage,” he said, “is expectedly high and we cannot wait for the world to enjoy the dynamic contemporary sophistication of our all-new compact SUV!

“The new Sportage target markets are the go-getters, who need a vehicle to match their confident and active lifestyle.”

Tikolo expressed his company’s readiness to give the best after sales service all over the country.

”We have eighteen outlets equipped to support the servicing of this vehicle nationwide,’ adding that, ; our Kia centre is working 24 hours a day. Recently, we opened Kia service centre at Dana House, which is about the most equipped and modern workshop in this country today.

“Launching a new model like this with a well equipped service centre attest to the fact that we are ready to serve you.”

Also commenting, Marketing Manager, Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr Jimoh Olawale, stressed that the new ultra modern Kia service centre is equipped with “facilities that one could think of when setting up a modern service centre.”

Olawale Jimoh, Marketing Manager, Kia Motors Nigeria(standing), addressing motoring journalists at the event (Copyright: Motoring World Intl)

“It is massive and the biggest in the industry for now,” he claimed, adding,  “And we have a whole lot of trained personnel particularly Nigerian engineers, who have been subjected to training by experts to handle 2017 and previous models. So, we can offer the best service to our teeming customers. It has the facilities to support the entire model we are pushing out.”

Olawale  also expressed confidence that the new Sportage would take the lead in its segment in Nigeria.

He stated: “From the sustained success and trajectory growth of Kia brand in Nigeria and particularly the wide acceptance of the previous generations of Kia Sportage to the advancements made to the 2018 model both inside and out, Kia has finely crafted the all-new 2017 Sportage and we confident that it will take the lead in its segment in Nigeria.

“The Sportage also possesses enhanced handling and steering performance and updated driver assistance features that boost safety and the overall driving experience. It stands strongly as one of the most popular models in the segment and has been a major driver behind the growth and success of Kia Motors globally.

“Building upon its predecessors, the all-new fourth-generation Sportage once again takes the urban SUV concept to the next level.

Adding his voice to the latest SUV offering, the Group Managing Director, Kia Motors Nigeria, Jacky Hathiramani said the development of the next-generation Sportage began with an in-depth analysis of market trends to best suit the needs of consumers.

“The thoughtful design, innovative packaging, premium materials, powerful engine and state-of-the art technology,” Hathiramani pointed out, “all translate into a stunning modern masterpiece of SUVs.

“We are confident that the all-new Kia Sportage will take the entire auto industry by storm, not least because of its brave and handsome design but also its reengineered technology for optimum performance. The Sportage boasts of a high, comfortable ride, acres of space for stuff, kids and pets, and off-road ability too.”

And according to the company’s Marketing Manager, the all-new Kia Sportage is made in Nigeria and tropicalized for the Nigerian roads.

” Above all,” he explained, ” the major impact of making it in Nigeria is backward integration into the economy, helping the local engineer; bringing them to fore with the technological advancement in the world, showing them how to assemble and cater for after sales service, a development, we believe, will go a long way to impact local engineer in terms of capacity development.”

Bagging the prestigious iF Design Awards immediately after its launch in the US, the extensively developed compact Kia Sportage has continued to receive praise for overall design quality, innovation, environmental impact and safety.

©Copyright MOTORING WORLD INTERNATIONAL.
All rights reserved. Materials, photographs, illustrations and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from Motoring World International