FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Kia Sportage takes to the stage

Kia has officially pulled the drapes off its fourth-generation QL-series Sportage that's set to become its second best-seller after the Cerato.

On sale January 2016, the new Mazda CX-5-rival from Korea gets a bold new look that features the firm's 'Tiger Nose' trademark look but swaps horizontal head lamps for vertical, back-swept, headlights. Adding visual aggression is a pair of quad-beam fog lamps.

Featuring a broad rising shoulder-line, the Sportage packs a more muscular look than the car it replaces, while at the back an unusual chrome boot lid strip unites a pair of slimmed-down rear tail lamps.

Claimed to be the most "refined and sophisticated compact SUV in its class" the show car also debuted its new GT Line trim that will slowly be introduced on other Kia models.

On the Sportage the new GT Line introduces sportier styling, sports suspension and, in the Sportage's case, big 19-inch alloys.

Under the bonnet, the Sportage on the stand was powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol/seven-speed dual-clutch auto combo that Hyundai offers with its new Tucson.

Expected to produce 130kW/265Nm under the bonnet of the Kia, the compact, punchy little unit has already been ruled out for Australian buyers.

Instead, we'll get the choice of an entry-level, direct-injection 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder with around 120kW/200Nm and a more powerful 2.4-litre petrol that's thought to muster 138kW/241Nm.

Top of the Sportage powertrain range is a 2.0-litre diesel that's expected to pack 135kW/400Nm and only come with a six-speed automatic.

Both front- and four-wheel drive will be option.

Just three "well-equipped" trims will be available on Kia's Qashqai-rival – Si, SLi and the fully-loaded Platinum.

Kia Australia has yet to set exact standard specifications for the Sportage, but the small SUV has already been confirmed to offer Kia's next-gen safety aids like  autonomous braking, lane departure warning – but not, curiously, lane keep assist.

All Australian-sold Kia Sportages will also come with full-size spare wheel that's a paid for option in some European markets.

Inside, the Sportage is said to offer buyers the brand's best interior yet with higher-grade materials and completely new design and an infotainment system that works with both Apple and Android connectivity.

Kia is expected to release full specification of its all-new Sportage in the coming months ahead of its fourth-quarter launch.

Pricing for the Sportage is likely to range from $25,990 to $41,590, mirroring what Mazda charges for its CX-5.

Later on from its launch Kia will offer the Sportage as a plug-in hybrid, a model that could potentially be offered Down Under, says Kia's Aussie arm.

Kia Australia has enjoyed impressive sales this year with 15-20 per cent growth racking up 30,000 sales thanks to strong sales from the Cerato, Sorento and Carnival plus run-out Sportage models. Next year Kia Australia hopes again to see double digit growth around 15-20 per cent, which would help it close in on its 50,000 sales ambition by 2017-2018.

That would represent sales growth from the Korean firm's current 3 per cent market share to around 5 per cent, despite a predicted overall market stagnation.

Key to Kia's aim for strong growth is the new Sportage, plus the introduction of the Kia Picanto that's set to be priced below $15,000 for a single-trim 1.25-litre model that comes with either a five-speed manual or automatic.

Kia is confident it will sell around 500-600 Picantos a month.

Full coverage from motoring.com.au at Frankfurt motor show here