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Tokyo Auto Show 1991. The
Kia stand unveils an unusual concept car with rounded lines
engineered to deal with irregular terrain. It is the
prototype that anticipates the
Sportage, the auto that inaugurates the era of
the sport utility vehicle better known as the SUV.
The idea met with considerable success and, 20 years later,
survives with the third generation, presented in 2010: we
test drove the ecological version with 1.6 GDI direct
injection engine, front-wheel drive and
LPG kit by Emer in Brescia.
With respect to the past,
the line chosen by the new Kia Style Center manager, Peter
Schreyer, is more fluid and casual, increasing the length
(4.44 meters) and width (1.86), reducing the height (1.64)
and raising the belt line. It has an imposing front section
with wraparound headlights on the sides and a lateral
profile that drops toward the rear to form a wedge-shaped
body with a CX of 0.37.
The result is a modern crossover with aggressive styling,
emphasized by the 18 inch wheels.
The cockpit is more sober
with easy-to-read instruments. A broad horizontal band runs
across the dashboard, interrupted at the center by the
screen of the navigator and rearview park-assist camera. the
gas switch/indicator is on the left. Passengers and baggage
have plenty of room: the luggage compartment has a capacity
of 564 liters, which can be expanded to 1,353 liters by
lowering the back seats, unchanged thanks to the use of a 50
liter toroid gas tank (with 40 liter effective capacity for
about 500 km autonomy)
installed in place of the spare tire, which is replaced by a
practical repair kit circa.
Seats and steering wheel
can be adjusted freely to find the ideal drive position.
When raised, it gives good visibility in all directions but
is hampered by the uprights in the rear section. The
instruments are conveniently arranged, concentrated on the
steering wheel (cruise control, radio, Bluetooth) and
levers, and the bucket seats are comfortable. The springs
and shock absorbers make the ride comfortable too. The
roughness of the terrain is absorbed without jeopardizing
the roadholding capacity. This is also aided by the chassis,
made of high tenacity steel that guarantees good structural
rigidity, and suspensions, designed with the McPherson
system on the front wheels and multilink arrangement on the
rear wheels. In support of active safety, the vehicle is
equipped with all the standard electronic systems like
traction control (TCS) and stability control (ESC). The
steering also wins our praise, with electric power steering
that offers variable stiffness depending on the speed, as
does the braking system.
But the most attractive
aspect of the Sportage is the engine: 1.6 GDI of the Gamma
family combined with a 6-speed transmission: a four cylinder
engine with direct injections and dual distribution CVVT
(variable phasing on both cam axles) which delivers
135 cv of power (165 Nm of
maximum torque) that serves to move the 1.4 tons of the
model at speeds up to 178 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100
km/h in 11.5 sec. These are extraordinary data for the type
of car, combined with consumption (6.8 l/100 km in the mixed
cycle) and reduced emissions (158 grams/km). The qualities
are improved by the application of the Bat Lpg Direct
Injection kit by Emer, a system that maintains performance
almost unchanged but reduces emissions and operating costs.
Emissions of greenhouse gas are reduced by 10% (about 143
g/km) and by almost 100% as regards pollutants such as
particulate. Costs benefit from the lower price of LPG for
savings that are close to 50%. In ordinary use
the consumption of gas is about 7.7 lt/100 km, a
value that with the cost of LPG at 0.85 euro/liter
translates into a kilometer cost of 0.065 euro. A few cents
have to be added for the gasoline injections foreseen to
protect the parts most subject to early wear, but the total
figure is very far from the 0.124 euro obtainable with
gasoline. The cost of the kit, about 1,800 euro, is
recovered at around 30,000 km. The economic advantage with
respect to the diesel model is also significant. The 1.7
CRDI with 116 cv accredited for average consumption of 5.5
l/100 km means a cost of 0.095 euro a km. The extra cost is
added to the greater expense for the purchase of the diesel
model, which costs 2,100 euro more than the 1.6 GDI, sold at
20,150 euro in the Active version and at 21,550 in the Plus
version tested. The price is competitive in consideration of
the equipment offered in the standard version that includes,
among other things, leather upholstery, dual-zone air
conditioners, darkened windows, electrically foldable
sideview mirrors and a 7-year (or 150,000 km) warranty.
There are only a few optionals, like the navigator with
rearview camera for parking (1.450 euro) and the openable
panoramic roof (1,010 euro).
(Ecomobile NR.101 July 2012)
Stefano Panzeri
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