Kia reveals all-new seven-seat SUV

Kia has released the first images of its all-new, seven-seat SUV -- dubbed the Borrego -- which is due to make its world debut at the imminent Detroit motor show.

Although only a mid-sizer by American standards, the Borrego will dwarf Kia's existing SUVs, which currently comprise the Sportage and Sorento.

The newcomer will be pitched chiefly at the US market, and there's no word as yet on right-hand-drive availability.

It's built on essentially the same body-on-frame underpinnings as the Hyundai Veracruz but its maker claims it incorporates "the latest NVH engineering philosophy for enhanced refinement."

Powertrain choices will include the newly developed 4.6-litre Tau V8 that debuts in the all-new, Lexus-rivalling Hyundai Genesis flagship sedan and the 3.8-litre V6 already sampled locally in the Grandeur.

The debut of the seven-seater is expected to greatly bolster Kia's sales volumes in the US, where there's healthy demand for soccer-mom-friendly multi-passenger haulers. Kia claims there's enough space in the third-row seats for two adults (but going on past experience with some seven-seaters, these may have to be of the pygmy variety)

In case you're wondering about the 'Borrego' moniker, it's derived from a bighorn sheep native to California's largest desert state park.

Anoraks may get the feeling they've seen this jigger before, and they'd be right, because it was previewed by the Mesa concept that took its bows at the 2005 Detroit show and has been 'seen' undergoing testing.

There's nothing particularly challenging or confrontational about its styling, and that reflects the conservative, practical-minded buyer set it will be pitched at.

The Borrego will be built in Korea and sales begin there in early 2008 with overseas sales commencing around mid-year.

Its launch will add another rung to Kia's growing product portfolio as it strives to multiply its global volumes. Models in Hyundai Australia's pipeline include the Cee'd and Pro_cee'd hatchbacks, which are likely to heighten public perception of the brand's small cars.