Kia Sport and Fuel Cell Concepts

Kia Sport and Fuel Cell Concepts
Like some other manufacturers, Kia has produced a lot more in the way of new product at the Paris Show than it suggested earlier would be the case, with the 2005 Sportage being joined by a fuel cell version of itself, and a turbocharged concept hatchback which looks forward to next year's B-segment production car.

The Kia Sport concept - and you won't miss that explosion in a custard factory colour scheme uses a 197bhp two litre turbocharged engine and a five speed automatic transmission. Styled in Korea with an eye to the target market of 20 to 30 year old Europeans, it has a deep front air dam, 18" five spoke alloy wheels, twin tailpipes and a high level rear spoiler. Inside, there's a mixture of leather and metal trim, with the two materials coming together on the centre console.

The Sportage 4x4, a great improvement on the 1990s model, has already been well trailed, but Kia has confirmed at Paris that it will be available with a choice of three engines.

Most buyers are likely to go for the 110bhp two-litre turbo diesel with its 180lb/ft of torque from 1800rpm, but there's also a 140bhp two-litre CVVT petrol engine and a 173bhp 2.7-litre V6. There's a choice of transmissions, too. As with the Toyota RAV4 when it was introduced, different Sportage models will be equipped with front-wheel drive only, or with full-time four-wheel drive.