A full-hybrid Sportage will continue to be offered, however. Currently, this version uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated to a small battery and electric motor for modest electric running – when parking or creeping along in traffic, for example. US specs reveal that the e-motor is a little more powerful than before, which should help make acceleration smoother, while this particular powertrain continues to use a six-speed automatic transmission.
The current Sportage is also available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which has been carried over for the new car in the US. The focus for this particular version is fleet customers, who want low CO2 emissions for favourable Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax rates. The outgoing Sportage PHEV sold here produces 248bhp, which is unlikely to change, but we may see a boost to the battery size for a slightly longer EV range.
We’ll know more when the European version (which will continue to be built in Slovakia) is revealed in the next couple of months, with sales pencilled in for a little later in the year.
Pricing hasn’t been discussed at this stage, but expect a slight increase over the current Sportage’s starting point of £29,890. We should see the usual 2, 3, GT-Line and GT-Line S trims offered, with top-spec cars getting luxury-car kit like big wheels, leather trim and a panoramic roof.
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