The next-generation Sportage will share almost no resemblance to its predecessor and as we edge closer to the SUV’s unveiling, Kia has stripped away some of the body cladding of its prototypes.

Our spy photographers recently snapped this Sportage being put through its paces near the Nurburgring and while the exterior is still covered in black and white camouflage, it doesn’t have the same black body cladding as prototypes spotted in South Korea in recent months, providing us with a good look as the overall shape of the vehicle.

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While not discernible in these spy shots, we know that Kia will equip the new Sportage with radical new headlights complete with sharp LED daytime running lights. It will also sport an enlarged version of the brand’s tiger nose grille which is partly visible on this prototype.

Elsewhere, we can see sharp and aggressive creases on the front wheel arches and hood that nicely complement the revised front fascia. As for the sides, there are pronounced creases that run along the doors, while at the rear there’s a pronounced roof spoiler. Finally, while camouflage is covering the taillights, we know that they will be LED units with a design equally as striking as the headlights.

We haven’t yet had the opportunity to see the interior of the new Sportage, but considering the radical changes made to the exterior design, we suspect that the cabin will also undergo considerable alterations that will include the fitment of a new dashboard with an enlarged infotainment system and the inclusion of a digital instrument cluster in certain (or perhaps all) variants.

Photo credits: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops