Kia says the car it has uncovered is for Europe only, but also concedes it has a lot of similarity with another more global car yet to be unwrapped.

RELEASE today of images and full technical data specific to a European variant of the Kia Sportage seems likely to have laid bare the model coming to New Zealand next year, though the national distributor is coy about this.

Kia head office in Seoul has been careful to cite the Sportage it has revealed overnight as having been a model that will only avail in Europe.

Yet the chances of it having a vastly different appearance to another version that’s still under wraps seem slim at best.

Why say that? Because parent Hyundai has already been down this road – though with a slight twist, with the new Tucson, now settling into New Zealand.

Hyundai builds a Tucson in Europe – and these are sold here – as well in South Korea. The major difference between the two types in that the one from the home country has a 75mm longer wheelbase and doesn’t have the more modern diesel engine that Europe demands.

Crucially, too, the European Tucson – and Sportage – will be fast-tracked for mild-hybrid, ‘traditional’ hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains that Hyundai NZ intends to pick up next year. There won’t be an electric version.

Kia locally has already indicated it has much the same warplan for the Sportage.

It has declined to comment about the car shown today, saying only: “We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new Sportage and can't wait to introduce it to Kiwi motorists, but at this stage it's too early to reveal specific details regarding specification and other information about the new model.”

All Tucsons being sold here are from the Czech Republic. By contrast, Australia has taken the car from South Korea. They are very close in look, with differences by and large coming down to those being cited as the differentiations that mark out the different Sportages.

For its part, Kia seems to be relating the same back story. It said today that its new platform, shared with Tucson, has allowed a long-wheelbase model it says is primarily intended for the South Korean and US markets and a short-wheelbase variant, “developed specifically for Europe.”

Whether Kia New Zealand can also take cars from Europe is unclear.

The European Sportage is 4515mm long; so still 30mm longer than the previous generation. The 2680mm wheelbase is 10mm longer than before but 75mm shorter than its global sibling’s.

Kia says while both versions of the new Sportage share a bold new front end that features the latest version of Kia’s ‘tiger grille’, the side bodywork of the European model has been reworked extensively to take account of its shorter overall length and wheelbase.

The C-pillar in particular has been significantly revised, losing the window built into the longer car. There is also a different rear bumper design. GT-Lines achieve a black contrasting roof. The wing mirrors have been moved from the A-pillar to the doors, which is intended to boost visibility and refine the aerodynamics.

The alterations go beyond the bodywork and platform, Kia’s European arm implementing bespoke ride and handling tune.

Inside, the new Sportage shares a dashboard with the EV6 electric car that Kia New Zealand will bring in next year – this car being their version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 that is about to be come available locally.

The Sportage interior is dominated by a gently curved display comprising two 12.3in digital screens. Many of the key controls are operated through a row of ‘multi-mode’ haptic buttons, which change functions depending on the task required.