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 @ Jan 6th 2008 10:07AM
It's a Tribeca-Pathfinder!
far jr @ Jan 6th 2008 10:07AM
Subaru forester on steroids?
J.Crew @ Jan 6th 2008 10:44AM
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.
David Thompson @ Jan 6th 2008 12:23PM
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.
Noe @ Jan 6th 2008 1:15PM
why does hyundai/kia always have to kill their suvs with 2 tone paint, why cant they just paint them all one color!!!
500 @ Jan 6th 2008 3:40PM
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
Mke @ Jan 6th 2008 3:44PM
Kia Forester XL?
doug @ Jan 6th 2008 8:33PM
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....
Josiah @ Jan 7th 2008 9:33AM
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 @ Jan 6th 2008 9:03PM
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.
spm @ Jan 7th 2008 8:59PM
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.
... @ Jan 7th 2008 5:31PM
These bashings I hear to undermine is quite dated I think.