2011 Kia Sportage SX Turbo packs 256 hp, priced from $25,795

Kia has dropped all the juicy details on its 2011 Sportage SX Turbo. The vehicle will hit the streets with a 256-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that's also good for 264 pound-feet of torque. That makes the Sportage the second vehicle in the Kia lineup to take advantage of the automaker's all-new direct-injection engine, the first being the 2011 Optima. The forced-induction four-pot will come bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission, which should help the Sportage SX nab 27 miles per gallon on the highway in front-wheel-drive guise. The automaker says that the figure gives its CUV better fuel economy than any of its competitors.In addition, the Sportage SX Turbo will use a firmer suspension compared to its naturally aspirated kin, and a host of aesthetic changes will set the vehicle apart from the rest of the Sportage line. Look for special 18-inch wheels, dual exhaust and a different grille to adorn the new turbo model.Prices start at $25,795 for the front-wheel drive version. Opting for all-wheel drive will add an additional $1,500. Both prices exclude a $695 destination charge. - AB