Texas KIA Dealer, Moritz KIA Fort Worth Introduces the all-new 2012 Kia Sportage SX

Aug. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Kia, with its recent flurry of new-model introductions, sent a clear message to competitors: “Just try to keep up with us.” That message comes through emphatically from the 2012 Kia Sportage SX, in more ways than one.

With the all-new Sportage, introduced for the 2011 model year, Kia designers melded the sharpest lines from a high-performance sport sedan with the utility of a compact SUV. Then, this past spring, the engineers stepped up their game and added some extra zing with the new turbocharged Sportage SX. Now, for the 2012 model, Kia continues to enhance the Sportage SX, adding the standard UVO in-car, hands-free entertainment and communication system, which is based on the Microsoft® Windows Embedded Automotive technology.

Turbo-boosted performance has been gaining popularity in the compact crossover segment, with the Acura RDX (240 hp), Mazda CX-7 (244 hp) and Volkswagen Tiguan (200 hp) each offering a combination of turbo performance, sporty handling and versatility. And then along comes the 2012 Kia Sportage SX, blowing them away on power and fuel economy, at a better value and with a longer warranty, the 2012 Kia Sportage SX throws down the gauntlet for those other turbo CUV’s.

Do 260 hp and 269 lb/ft of torque sound compelling to you? The 2012 Kia Sportage SX puts those hefty performance figures to excellent use. Motor Trend Magazine tested the Sportage SX for its July issue and recorded zero-to-60 in just 7.3 seconds. Yet, the 2012 Sportage SX also posts EPA fuel economy ratings that beat even less-powerful, non-turbo crossovers: 22 mpg city / 29 mpg highway for the FWD model, and 21/26 for the AWD version.

Compare those impressive economy figures to the Acura RDX at 19/24 for FWD and 17/22 with AWD. That value gap gets even wider when you consider that the Kia Sportage SX makes maximum power using regular-grade gasoline, not the more expensive premium that many turbocharged models specify, including the Acura RDX and VW Tiguan.

The remarkable balance of performance and fuel economy in the 2012 Sportage SX comes courtesy of the Kia 2.0-liter gas direct injection (GDI) engine and standard six-speed automatic transmission. The twin-scroll turbocharger ensures ample low-end power and super-quick responsiveness. You’ll feel that power in everyday driving situations, not just when you’re charging up a highway entrance ramp.

When the word “sport” takes up most of your model name, you’d better deliver on that promise. The all-new Kia Sportage models do, with crisp handling and a cockpit that feels more like a sports coupe than a CUV. The 2011 Sportage SX amps up the handling factor with sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels. If the unique wheel design makes you think of a concept vehicle’s wheels, that’s a reflection of how Kia designers obsess over such details. The grille, duel exhaust outlets and special side sill moldings contribute to the hunkered-down sporty attitude in the Sportage SX.

The special SX treatment carries over inside, where you’ll find an exclusive Supervision gauge cluster, aluminum doorsills, “Welding cloth” seat trim and the availability of exclusive options. In other regards, the Sportage SX follows the high-content equipment level of the Sportage EX model.

Within the Sportage line, the SX exclusively offers the available interior color packages that you might expect from a luxury-brand vehicle. The Orange Color Package adds orange stitching on the steering wheel, center console, and seats, along with orange accents on the door panels and air vents. The Blue Color Package brings a unique blue patterned cloth seat and blue interior accents.

The 2012 Kia Sportage SX offers those color packages in conjunction with the Premium Package. This comprehensive smorgasbord of comfort and convenience equips the Sportage with heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, Navigation with SIRIUS Traffic and rear camera display, pushbutton start, a premium audio system with subwoofer, Back Up Warning System and auto-dimming rear-view mirror with HomeLink®.

That’s a lot of performance, comfort and value in what you could rightly call a “designer vehicle.” The Kia Sportage also gets the “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it comes with the brand’s renowned five-year/60,000-mile (whichever comes first) bumper-to-bumper new car warranty with Roadside Assistance, plus the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

If you’re looking for truly sporty performance in a compact crossover, along with a strong helping of technology and comfort, then come test-drive the 2012 Kia Sportage at Moritz KIA Fort Worth near Dallas, Texas.

Visit Moritz KIA Fort Worth online website at http://moritzkiafw.com for more details!

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At MORITZ KIA Fort Worth, we work hard to get you into the vehicle you have always wanted. We work with a vast array of lending sources to make sure you will get the most complete and comprehensive financial package available.