Kia is entering two modified 2022 Sorento PHEVs in the 2021 Rebelle Rally. The all-women team will be going up against competition from the likes of Nissan, Mitsubishi, Ford, and Volkswagen.
The pair of Sorentos will compete in the X-Cross class under the “Electrified”designation. Kia says that the rally will demonstrate how the PHEV SUV is able to off-road on plug-in power.
“The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid plays a pivotal role in the launch of Kia’s Plan S electrification strategy and the Rebelle Rally is the ultimate proving ground for us to showcase our commitment to sustainable mobility, even off the beaten path,” said Sean Yoon, president & CEO, Kia North America and Kia America.
Piloting the first Sorento will be driver Alyssa Roenigk and navigator Sabrina Howells. The duo finished second in a Kia Telluride last year. Their teammates will be professional rally driver Verena Mei, navigated by Tana White, who guided a Ram truck in last year’s rally.
Although the exact details of the competing cars will be revealed closer to the rally, Kia America says that their entry will be “minimally modified,” with a design inspired by previous Kia outdoors and adventurous concepts.
The Sorento on which the rally cars will be based features a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, a 14 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and an electric motor. This setup enables the SUV to produce a combined output of 261 hp (195 kW / 265 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque.
The Rebelle Rally is the first women’s off-road navigation rally raid in the United States. The 2021 event kicks off on October 7 at the Hoover Dam in Nevada and will continue until October 16, when the cars will cross the finish line at California’s Imperial Sand Dunes.
