Ordered the same car as the OP last Saturday, Fusion Orange with Black roof. Was asking the dealer about the HEV and PHEV, apparently Kia had predicted/estimated that they would sell 1,000 Sportage per month on MB. In the 1st 2 weeks of April they had taken 53,000 orders! The majority of which were the HEV version. Hence removing that version for the rest of the year so they could satisfy the demand from retail/private buyers.
Understandable I suppose but I would have liked at least the option to wait a year or more.
Oh, and delivery for the car we ordered is ‘around’ September/October.