Every 4×4 Should Look as Good as the Kia Telluride Concept

“The Kia Telluride makes an aesthetic statement for the Kia brand as a bold, all-new luxury SUV with an abundance of advanced technology, focusing particular attention on the experience and comfort of second-row occupants”, said Tom Kearns, Chief Designer at Kia. What this means is that the Korean company wants to measure the public’s response to the Telluride and decide whether they should offer a premium SUV above the Sorento or not.

Both the conventional front and rear-hinged rear doors on the Telluride swing open a full 90 degrees to permit easy access to its tastefully rendered cabin awash in rich black leather and alloy accents. A Light-Emitted Rejuvenation system using a wing-shaped LED screen mounted beneath Telluride’s big sunroof will help treat desynchronosis or jetlag. Sounds expensive, doesn’t it? Up front, a compartment in the center stack allows for wireless cell phone charging, and Kia’s first use of 3D-printed components add a distinct, modern design element to the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel.

Compared to the Sorento CUV, the Telluride concept is 4.4 inches taller, 4.7 inches wider, and 9.5 inches longer, ending up with a 70.9 inch tall x 79.1 inch wide x 196.9 inch long SUV painted with a Dark Pyrite green coating to accentuate the car’s tall, muscular, nearly menacing stance.

Power is provided by a 3.5-liter gasoline direct injected (GDI) V6 engine and an electric motor. It has very thin vertical taillights that also take advantage of LEDs and Kia made a decision to give the concept a dual exhaust setup and a prominent roof-mounted spoiler. If that media is music, it’s subsequently played back through either the seven-speaker Harman Kardon audio system or through a set of portable Harman Kardon headphones that charge wirelessly while stored. Large 22-inch five-spoke wheels contribute to the SUV’s presence.

At 180.08cm tall, 200.91cm wide and 500.12cm long, Telluride is 11.17cm taller, 11.93cm wider, and a sizable 24.13cm longer than the current Sorento.

A finger-print activated push-button start activates the Telluride’s PHEV powertrain. This configuration generates a combined 400 hp sent to an all-wheel drive system.

Since Kia knows a thing or two about turning concepts into production metal, we’d keep an eye on them if we were in the market for a vehicle such as this one. Kia’s USA manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima* and Sorento* and is responsible for the creation of more than 15,000 plant and supplier jobs. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.