2013 Kia Sorento to have more power trains, better economy

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Kia will be releasing the new 2013 Sorento to markets later this year and the newly-upgraded crossover will include revised GDI and diesel engines.

When the 2013 Kia Sorento compact utility vehicle (CUV) enters the market later this year, it will include some huge changes to its platform. A range of gasoline and diesel engines will be available, most being tuned for specific markets, with fine-tuning to the Theta II 2.4 GDI and R2.2 TCI diesel engines.

The Sorento will come with a standard six-speed transmission in either manual or automatic, no matter the market, and will come in a choice of 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive (2WD, 4WD) with a front-wheel-centric drive train. The 4WD option is on-demand and includes an automatic torque differential to send power from front to rear and back as needed. An optional "lock" mode splits power 50:50 between front and rear and disables the torque differential.

New styling for the Sorento means the aerodynamic drag coeficcient (Cd) is down to 0.34 with sleeker styling and a more updated look. Kia plans annual sales of 265,000 units globally.

New Gasoline Engine Update
The new gasoline engine in the Sorento is a 2.4-liter Theta II GDI (gasoline direct injected) with a newly-designed cylinder head, upgraded pistons, and new fuel injection and intake systems design. It generates 9% more power than its predecessor at 189 horsepower and 6.6% more torque (now 178 lb-ft) with the GDI update from the previous MPI system. It delivers better fuel economy and fewer emissions at teh same time.

Some markets will see the 3.5-liter Lambda V6 MPI as well as the 2.4-liter Theta II MPI offered last year. European buyers will have a 2.0-liter R2.0 TCI as well.

New Diesel Engine Update
A new 2.2-liter TCI (turbocharged inter-cooler) diesel engine puts out 194 horsepower and includes a new exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, reducing emissions. This engine is not planned for North American sales, however, but will be offered throughout Europe and Asia.

In the North American market, the Sorento starts at $23,150 MSRP for 2013 and includes a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty.