The next generation of Kia Sportage might already be at your Kia dealer, but it’s not holding back when it comes to competing at a high level on the rally circuit. For the third year in a row, Kia announced that the Sportage X-Pro will be returning to the Rebelle Rally. The Sportage X-Pro is ready to rally right out of the gate with a wide range of off-road upgrades.
Rally-Ready Sportage X Pro
The Sportage X-Pro is ready for some overlanding adventures thanks to all-terrain tires, on-demand AWD, and a multi-terrain drive mode selector. Other useful features include a heated windshield and 17-inch wheels in cool matte black.
There are two Sportage X-Pro trims available, with the top trim being the Sportage X-Pro Prestige. The main differences between the two trims are some additional interior niceties and LED projector headlights on the Prestige model.
The Rebelle Rally version of the Sportage X-Pro will also be modified slightly to better fit the challenging nature of the course. The modified Sportage X-Pro will feature the standard 2.5 -liter engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which is good enough for 187 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque.
The X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige run at $34,990 or $36,790, respectively, at your Kia dealer.
Navigating the Rebelle Rally in the Sportage X-Pro
Kia will compete in the all-women off-road rally for the third year in a row. In 2021, the Korean automaker finished second and third with two Sorento models in 2021 and finished second in 2020 with a Telluride. This year’s Nevada competition will start on October 6th and end on October 15th.
The Rebelle Rally features 4×4 and X-Cross vehicles. All 4×4 vehicles require a two-speed transfer case, as you’ll find on vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler, and X-Cross vehicles are unibody designs with either 2WD or AWD.
Some of the necessary upgrades for the Kia Sportage X-Pro rally car will include additional underbody protection, a custom roof rack, and tow points on both ends to help it get out of any sticky situations.
Kia Rally History
The Kia Sportage is the Korean automaker’s longest-running nameplate, and it has a long history of racing off-road in the desert with appearances in the Baja 1000 and Paris-Dakar rallies in the past. The Sportage always held its own off-road and often finished with impressive results.
The latest Sportage is definitely better equipped than those early models, and it should build on its legacy by tackling the Rebelle Rally. It’s important to note that the Rebelle Rally is not geared toward speed racing but rather one of precise navigation where participants use old-school navigation equipment to find hidden checkpoints. Cell phones and GPS equipment are not allowed.
The new Sportage X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige are now available at Kia dealers around the country.
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