Bespoke Kia Telluride debuts – eight-seat SUV, new V6

Kia has officially unveiled a customised version of its upcoming eight-seater SUV, the Telluride, at the New York Fashion Week show. The vehicle was seen displayed in an off-road setting, and was created by Kia’s US design studio in Irvine, California.

As you can probably tell, the design of the car is partly influenced by fashion designer Brandon Maxwell’s latest Texas-inspired runway collection. It features specially-tailored elements such as the natural wood interior trim (a nod to Maxwell’s Texan roots), saddle-inspired double-stitched leather adornments on the dash, door panels and grab handles. More on the interior, later.

Interestingly, the same leather is used to wrap the wing mirror caps as well as the door handles, which add a unique contrast to the deep green paint. According to Kia, the green shade here is the same as that which was previewed in Detroit two years ago.

To add to its rugged looks, the fashionable Telluride features bespoke front and rear bumpers, skid plates and sidestep sills to exude a ranch-ready look. There’s also a hidden winch and a snorkel for those who fancy themselves a trip deep into the woods. The 20-inch twin five-spoke wheels are wrapped in thick 265/50 off-road tyres, with a spare wheel that’s custom-mounted (with the same leather, no less) to the rear hatch. This feature will not make it to the production car, for obvious reasons.

Summing off the look of this one-off special is a metal- and leather-trimmed cargo area, a custom wood and aluminium roof rack as well as a special leather tow strap tongue between the front fog lamps.

While we have a clear picture of how the production version of the Telluride will look, we have yet to get a glimpse of its cabin – the first time was in 2016, and it was no more than just a concept at the time. Now however, it appears that the SUV will get a decidedly premium cockpit, complete with a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, analogue gauges with an Audi-esque digital display in between, a freestanding widescreen infotainment display as well as dual-zone automatic climate control.

Other distinguishable features include a terrain management system (just aft of the gearstick), electric parking brake as well as heated and ventilated front seats. Speaking of which, both front seats are wrapped in perforated leather and are separated by a wide centre armrest.

In terms of engine, it’s unknown what the Telluride will get, but the concept model featured a plug-in hybrid setup, specifically a 270 hp 3.5 litre GDI V6 engine that’s paired with a 130 hp electric motor. However, Kia says a new V6-powered option is in the pipeline.

The eight-seater Telluride will be assembled at Kia’s manufacturing facility in Georgia, and it will be slightly longer than the seven-seat Sorento. It’s expected to be launched early next year. What do you think of the Telluride? Let us know in the comments, below.

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