Kia America Crosses 2022 Rebelle Rally Finish Line with Sportage X-Pro

Looking for any chance to prove they’re one of the best, automakers will accept any challenge. With many competitions going on year-round, one unique is a race known as Rebelle Rally. Known as the first all-women’s off-road rally and the longest competition of its kind in the lower 48 states, Kia America enter the Rebelle Rally with is new 2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro . Only in its third year of entering the race since 2020, Kia America returns every year with something new to bring to the table. With Kia driver Verena Mei and navigator Tana White behind the wheel, the Sportage X-Pro finished the race.

“The Sportage X-Pro was a blast to drive – like a rally car – nimble through rocky terrain, steep hills, and zipping up and down sand dunes. Throughout the training and rigors of the rally, I had full confidence that it could take on just about anything…The BFGoodrich tires also held up incredibly well through sharp rocks. At one point we were certain we popped a tire, but those tires proved trusty and increased my confidence as a driver.” – professional rally and drift racer Mei

Covering 2000-kilometers (1,500-miles), the Rebelle Rally race of off-road navigation in the United States spans from Lake Tahoe to San Diego before finishing in the sandy dunes of Glamis, CA. Driving across the deserts of Nevada and California were the perfect opportunity to show how well the new Sportage X-Pro performs, no matter what the terrain or conditions. Ironically, the external odometer external odometer – a key navigational tool used in the rally – a key navigational tool used in the rally, stopped working in the first stage of the competition. Not a huge problem for navigator White, who did the extra math to calculate the speed, distance and several other factors to keep the team on the right track. With some ingenuity and paper maps, she scribbled down the hidden checkpoints as Mei drove the SUV through finish line.

Fifth place isn’t a bad place to win for an off-road SUV. The odometer was eventually fixed for the last day of the competition, and the SUV was showing off all it could do across the sandy dunes. Since its release, the 2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro has become a large selling point for Kia America. Adding more functionality to the SUV, the Sportage X-Pro adds all-wheel drive (AWD) for all-terrain capabilities and a multi-terrain drive mode system for handling various types of terrain, with modes: Normal, Sport, Smart, and Snow.

Modified for the 2022 Rebelle Rally, the 2023 Sportage X-Pro came with custom Baja Forged front- and rear bumpers and tow points; skid plates in the front, rear and underbody to keep the underbelly protected from sharp points and rocks; and 17-inch Rhino wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich® All-Terrain T/A K02 tires, sponsored by Michelin. Under the hood is the 187-horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 engine, powering an SUV with 8.3-inches of ground clearance, packed with tech and safety options. Also available is the Sportage X-Pro Prestige, offering more comfort and convenient features to push the model just a little further to earn its namesake. When looking for an SUV that can do more than handle the road, Kia America is starting to earn its place. Find the new 2023 Kia Sportage X-Pro at Miami Lakes Automall .

Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media

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