Developed by the Hyundai-Kia Group for fitment in a wide range of future vehicles, the all-new six-speed automatic transmission now available for the new Kia Sportage is ultra-compact - and can feature a new optional 'paddle shift' system which allows drivers to change gear without taking their hands off the steering wheel.

The driver can choose from two operating modes - fully automatic or 'Sport'. For city driving, fully automatic mode is ideal, while 'Sport' mode allows for clutch-less manual gear changes for greater driver involvement - either using the selector lever or the new steering wheel-mounted paddles.

Whenever the car is stopped for more than a few seconds, the new transmission's innovative 'Neutral Control' function automatically shifts the transmission from 'D' to 'N', improving fuel economy especially in city driving.