New Kia Sorento spotted - first pictures

These are the first pictures of the new Kia Sorento testing in Europe.

These photos were taken in Scandanavia, where Kia is believed to be carrying out winter testing on the new model. Multiple prototypes were caught filling up at a local petrol station.

While much remains unknown about the new Sorento, we can already see the new shape of the test mule's rear lights, hinting at a significant redesign underneath the camouflage. The new car is likely to look significantly different than the old model, due in part to Hyundai and Kia design boss Peter Schreyer's desire to give both Korean brands their own design languages.

This will become the third generation of Sorento, with the last second-generation model being launched towards the end of 2012. Previous models have proven themselves to be capable SUVs, with an almost class-leading flexibility and only high asking prices holding the model back.

Kia currently sells the Sorento from £24,695 in the UK. The new model is tipped to launch at the end of this year, after a reveal at the Paris motor show in September. It'll likely go up against other large SUVs like the Toyota Land Cruiser, Volkswagen Touareg and Land Rover Discovery.