Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, SUVs, Etc., Kia
Pics Aplenty: Kia Mohave/Borrego launches in Korea
by Dan Roth on Jan 6th 2008 at 10:03AM 
We've already seen some undisguised pictures of Kia's handsome new midsize SUV, but the vehicle just launched officially in Korea as the Mohave. Official launch means official pictures, and that's what we have here, a ton of really beautiful images of what we'll soon know as the Borrego. Not that Borrego, this one sports a full frame, seating places for seven, and the choice of Kia's strong-like-bull V6 or their first V8. The wisdom of introducing a new body-on-frame SUV at this point, especially in light of the coming new CAFE rules, might be questionable, but the vehicle itself is handsome and it's hard to deny the inherent value that Kia bakes into its cars. We'll check the Borrego out in person when it makes it's US debut at the Detroit Auto Show. In the meantime, Carscoop unearthed a lot of great pictures to tide us over.
[Source: Kia via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aetius 10:07AM (1/06/2008)
It's a Tribeca-Pathfinder!
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far jr 10:07AM (1/06/2008)
Subaru forester on steroids?
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J.Crew 10:44AM (1/06/2008)
It looks like an old Toyota Highlander with a dash of Subaru and Nissan also thrown in, but overall it has a clean look with the impression that it is well made. It will be interesting to see in Detroit in the next couple weeks for a real impression. Internet photos don't seem to provide the real presence of any design. You miss out on the real detailing and impression a car can have.
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David Thompson 12:23PM (1/06/2008)
The Borrego is basically the de facto replacement for the Hyundai Terracan, which is sold in lots of places of the "climb every mountain, ford every stream" variety that don't have any icky CAFE regulations. I'm sure Kia will sell a few here, but the US isn't a primary or even secondary market for this one.
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Noe 1:15PM (1/06/2008)
why does hyundai/kia always have to kill their suvs with 2 tone paint, why cant they just paint them all one color!!!
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500 3:40PM (1/06/2008)
So has GM lost the Borrego name to Hyundai-Kia? Any time a likeness appears now (such as a die-cast model), will it have to be called something lame like Chevrolet Concept Truck?
A similar situation occurred with the Dodge Copperhead concept:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Copperhead
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Mke 3:44PM (1/06/2008)
Kia Forester XL?
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doug 8:33PM (1/06/2008)
It's interesting that Ford and GM are getting out of the body on frame midsize SUV market in favor of unibody designs just as Kia is getting into the market. The next Explorer may have a turbo 4 cylinder instead of a V6?
The next 12 years will see radical change in our auto market....
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Josiah 9:33AM (1/07/2008)
Kia has been in the body-on-frame midsize SUV business for a bit now ... I drive evidence of that, a 2003 Sorento
the V8 option is new, but they'll sell mostly base V6's here unless the V8 is so discounted it lures buyers.
Guenther 9:03PM (1/06/2008)
The Terracan, which this replaces, was built on an old Mitsu platform. This thing has a frame and 4 wheel independent suspension, just like the Pajero/Montero. Anyone have info if this is a recycled platform?
If it comes here with the Diesel, it could be a great value.
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spm 8:59PM (1/07/2008)
i hear this is a completely new platform coming from kia, with multilink type suspension all around+ air bagged rear and no resemblance to any mitsu unit.
... 5:31PM (1/07/2008)
These bashings I hear to undermine is quite dated I think.
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