First look: Kia goes Borrego

KIA has unveiled its all-new medium-sized SUV, named the Borrego, ahead of its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

Codenamed HM, the Borrego – which borrows the name from the Californian desert state park (and the bighorn sheep found in it) – is being billed as the South Korean car-maker’s first true medium SUV, despite the fact that the Sorento is categorised as a mid-sizer.

The Borrego is understood to be based on a stretched Sorento platform and will use that model’s off-road-oriented ladder-frame (rather than monocoque) chassis.

It will seat seven and be offered with either a V6 or, in a first for the brand, a V8 petrol engine. There is no word on whether a turbo-diesel engine will also be available.

Production of the Borrego, which was previewed by the 2005 Mesa concept, will take place in Korea early in 2008. Overseas sales will commence a few months later, however, a Kia Motors Australia spokesman told GoAuto this week that these will be limited to left-hand drive markets. He said the vehicle will not be built in RHD in the foreseeable future.