The award winning Kia Sorento reached halfway point on its first ever solo round the world road trip via Siberia.

Driven by Christer Gerlach, a pioneering Swedish driver and adventurer, the Sorento arrived in Korea which is the halfway point of his epic journey in which he plans to drive around the world solo in a completely standard Kia Sorento SUV.

In the most recent stage of the 24,000-kilometer journey, Mr. Gerlach -- driving a completely standard 3.5-litre, V6-engined Kia Sorento -- crossed the largely unmapped wastelands of Siberia en route to the port of Vladivostok, Russia. The next leg of his route will take him on the fabled Route 66 from California to New York.

This is the second time this year a Korean 4 wheel drive vehicle has stood up to the tough terrain of an around the world challenge. In August 2004, Neil White and his 18 year old son Alistair embarked on a journey covering 25 countries in a standard Hyundai Terracan arriving at their destination in Austrailia on schedule in December 2004. 

The Terracan put in an unbeatable performance over tough terrain, reaching 109 mph and averaging a staggering 77 mph across the desert plains of Austrailia. There were only two problems from start to finish - one caused by polluted fuel and the other by sheer altitude, neither of which were the fault of the Terracan.