Rafa debuts new Kia Sportage

As the sporting world turns its collective gaze to Melbourne for the 2016 Australian Open tennis grand slam, Kia is already leveraging the star power of its highest-profile ambassador, Rafael Nadal.

The 14-time grand-slam winner – who won the Australian Open in 2009 – posed with the new-generation Kia Sportage, a vehicle that could boost the Korean importer's sales significantly in 2016.

It's the first time the new Sportage has been shown in this country, some two weeks ahead of the vehicle's national launch and local sales.

Pricing, equipment levels and powertrains will be revealed in a couple of weeks but the new-look, slightly larger Sportage is being pitched as a Mazda CX-5 rival, which was the best-selling SUV in Australia during 2015.

A number of engine options are available overseas but the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine available in sibling/rival Hyundai Tucson has been ruled out for Australia. Instead potential buyers can expect to pick between 2.0-litre (120kW/200Nm) and 2.4-litre (138kW/240Nm) four-cylinder petrol engines.

There's also a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel on the cards churning out around 135kW/400Nm.

It's not yet clear whether both front- and four-wheel drive layouts will be offered, but automatic gearboxes are a given.

Meanwhile in Detroit, Kia unveiled the facelifted version of the Kia Cerato hatch, which is badged the Forte in the USA. Boasting a design closer to the new Sportage and just-launched new-generation Optima, the new model is a little sleeker and more sophisticated-looking.

Due in Australia in June 2016, the updated Cerato is expected to benefit from several new safety features, such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance.

Back to the tennis, and as well as being the naming sponsor – for the 15th year running – Kia donates 110 vehicles to the Australian Open tennis grand slam, with some 200 drivers working around the clock to take players, officials, and important people to and from the tennis.

Tennis Australia CEO, Craig Tiley, said: "The sight of the Kia cars ferrying players, officials, media and this year for the first time, fans, around Melbourne, adds significantly to the tangible excitement and buzz the event brings to the city of Melbourne."

The tennis fleet comprises 50 Kia Sorentos, 32 Kia Carnivals and 28 Cerato sedans. Kia reckons the fleet will cover more than 400,000km during the 2016 Australian Open.