SPY PICS: 2013 Kia Sorento

The latest evolution of the Kia Sorento SUV has been spotted testing in Europe by Carparazzi and even with the heavy camouflage it's clear that Kia is moving the design forward.

Scheduled to hit Australia later in the year, with a likely debut at the Australian International Motor Show on October 19, these spy photos represent the first major mid-life update for Kia's Sorento XM model, which was first launched in Korea in 2009.

Judging from the camouflage the facelift involves styling changes to the SUV's front and rear. The Sorento's front end features psychedelic patterning to confuse the eye, hiding a redesigned snout that is likely to incorporate new look bumper, bonnet and restyled headlights.

Carparazzi says the 2013 Sorento will get BMW-like "eyebrow" accents on top of its headlight cluster, similar to those seen on the European market Kia Cee'd. The rear of the Kia Sorento prototype is also heavily concealed and with only part of the brake lights showing, it's expected the rear lights and bumper will be updated as well, providing the SUV with a relatively fresh appeal.

Interior changes are also likely but until we get close-up spy photos we won't know the specifics. The Sorento is expected to retain 3.5-litre V6 petrol and 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engines.

Local Kia spokesman Kevin Hepworth has previously told motoring.com.au that the new Sorento will ride on the platform also underpinning the new Santa Fe. So the Sorento seems likely to introduce the new architecture to Australia around the same time as the Santa Fe arrives here. So much for Kia's junior partner status in the Hyundai/Kia pairing. Expect the new Sorento to share the short-wheelbase and up to seven-seat packaging of the Hyundai, but with Kia's exclusive chassis engineering input from local engineers.

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