Badass Kia Sportage is ready for the 2022 Rebelle Rally

The fifth-generation Sportage is probably the sleekest crossover Kia has ever designed to date. First revealed back in June 2021, the all-new Sportage combines sharp lines, muscular curves, as well as unique-looking front fascia that will make you take a second look.

Available with various engine options that include a turbo-hybrid, a turbo-diesel, turbo-gasoline, and a turbocharged plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the Kia Sportage has plenty going for it. But when it comes to taking on rally racing, the Sportage is not exactly the type of vehicle you'd pick.

But for Kia America and a select group of women, the Sportage is the perfect vehicle to use for the 2022 Rebelle Rally. Using a modified 2023 Sportage X-Pro, the crossover will take on a grueling 1,500-mile (or 2,414 km) navigational challenge through the Nevada and California deserts.

The crossover is specially equipped with rally-ready gear courtesy of Theresa Contreras and Sara Morosan, the powerhouse sister team and owners of LGE-CTS Motorsports and Baja Forged off-road products. The Sportage is fitted with front and rear bumpers complete with tow points, skid plates in the front and rear, underbody protection to keep the chassis safe, as well as 17-inch Rhino wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich all-terrain K02 tires. In case the team needs to take extra gear, it has a custom roof rack, too.

Powering this Sportage is a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-four that is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. No modifications were done to the motor as it produces the factory 190 PS along with 245 Nm of torque.

Piloting the Sportage X-Pro for this year's Rebelle Rally will be Verena Mei and navigator Tana White, who came back for another year with Kia after winning second place during last year's race in a Sorento PHEV.

“Kia’s longest-running nameplate has a storied past of off-road desert racing with impressive results to boot in the Paris-Dakar rally and Baja 1000 race. An incredible off-road contender back then, the latest iteration of the Sportage will build upon its legacy by tackling the arduous Rebelle Rally with finesse, especially with such a fierce team at the helm,” said Steve Center, COO and EVP of Kia America.

The 2022 Rebelle Rally is set to take place from October 6 to 15 and will start in Nevada. This will be the third time the manufacturer will join the annual rally after having finished second and third in 2021, as well as second place back in 2020 with a Telluride.