The big SUV Kia Motors has been teasing us with for the past week has now been unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show, and it’s an interesting concept. Kia Telluride previews where the company’s design language is headed while suggesting styling of a possible future premium large SUV.
Being a concept, you can’t really judge the design of Kia Telluride by looking at its rear-hinged back doors, Dark Pyrite green paint, 22-inch wheels, or LER lights. They don’t mean nothing because they won’t make it into any production model any time soon. What could be considered as noteworthy in this concept is the Swipe Command.
It’s a thin, touch-sensitive, interactive band mounted to the second row center console – which allows rear-seat passengers to quickly scroll and select desired media by simply swiping their hand. Now that’s a technology that is sure to be found in production models in one form or another. Another is the finger-print activated push-button start which sounds like a good security feature.
Kia Telluride Concept is powered by a hybrid system consisting of a 3.5-liter gasoline direct injected (GDI) V6 engine and a powerful electric motor, developing a combined 400 horsepower and returning 30 mpg. Needless to say, the car boasts all-wheel-drive. Kia has no plans for the time being to put the Telluride into production.