Introduced in 2010, the third-gen 2011 Kia Sportage now stands as the oldest model in Kia’s->ke41 vehicle lineup, but that won’t be the case for much longer. New spy shots->ke166 captured near Hyundai’s->ke201 European technical center give us a more revealing look at the next-generation 2016 Kia Sportage, both inside and out, ahead of an expected global debut next month in Korea.

Though it’s still wearing heavy camouflage, it is easy to see that this new Kia Sportage->ke1332 will be an evolution of the current design. This is evidenced by the fact that this prototype reveals a similar roofline and side window opening as today’s Sportage, but it does so with some obvious length added. The new Kia Sportage will continue to share its platform with the new Hyundai Tucson,->ke3245 which recently debuted with proportions that are longer and wider than its predecessor.

The upcoming Kia Sportage will definitely get a fresh look, with a completely restyled front end that includes a more upright version of the Kia tiger nose grille, and new fascia, fenders, headlights and hood. Likewise, the rear of the Sportage will have a restyled fascia and liftgate to tie in with newer Kia designs. The biggest story about these spy shots is the interior showing a completely redesigned cabin, with a new instrument panel, gauges, center console and even seats.

Still unknown is the powertrains that this Kia Sportage will offer, but looking at the 2016 Hyundai Tucson gives us some good clues. European customers will have a broader range, including a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder as the base engine and an optional 1.7-liter diesel, and the U.S.-spec will likely bring the Tucson’s base 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder paired to a six-speed automatic and an optional 1.6-liter turbo and direct-injected four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

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Why it matters

The compact->ke140 crossover->ke288 segment continues to be one of the most popular globally, so the next-gen Kia Sportage will play a key role in the Kia lineup moving forward. The European-spec 2016 Sportage will probably be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show->ke235 in September, but with the current Sportage already carrying over for the 2016 model year in the U.S., we might have to wait until early next year (perhaps the Chicago Auto Show)->ke225 to see the North American 2017 Sportage.

2016 Kia Sportage - Spy Shots

Read our speculative review here.