The 2011 International Truck of the Year has an all new available engine under the hood. Canadian Kia fans can soon head over to dealers and pick up the 2011 Kia Sportage SX, which features a direct-injected 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. We expect the U.S. to follow suit in very short order.

@funkmasterflex

Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the turbo mill has a relatively flat torque curve with peak power occurring between 1,800 and 3,000 rpm. When bolted into the 2011 Sonata, the 2.0T is rated at 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. We expect the Sportage SX to produce similar numbers, including the 30+ miles per gallon highway fuel economy figures.

The car will show up in Canadian dealer showrooms by the end of winter. Priced at $36,995 Canadian, it comes loaded with standard features including the new UVO entertainment system, which is similar to Ford’s Sync.