Does the Kia Telluride concept show Kia is planning a full-size luxury SUV?

Is this Kia Telluride concept car an indication that Kia is moving in a new styling direction, and planning to add a full-size luxury Sport Utility Vehicle to its line-up?

The Kia Telluride concept sees a whole new design language for Kia, and suggests the company is indeed considering a possible future large SUV, slotting in above its existing Kia Sorento SUV.

Unveiling a cutting-edge glimpse into the future, the Telluride is a 7-passenger 3-row luxury SUV concept, with a modern upright shape, state-of-the-art technology, and attention paid specifically to the experience and comfort of 2nd row occupants.

Inviting portal

The Telluride’s rear doors are back-hinged (not seen before on a large SUV) which the Kia statement says create an “expansive and inviting portal into the panoramic interior space”.  4 black-leather captain’s chairs appear to float within a spacious cabin, and the 2nd row (middle rear) seats recline at a low angle, including fold-away footrests.

Seats with Smart Sensors, vital signs on door panels, and a Light Emitted Rejuvenation system

Sorry, say again…?!  The front and middle seats have diamond-cut openings embedded with Smart Sensors to monitor the person seated’s vital health information – these vitals are then displayed on the interior door panel screens, which then synchronise with a Light Emitted Rejuvenation (LER) system.  LER uses a wing-shaped LED panel mounted beneath the panoramic sunroof, giving off a “a pattern of therapeutic light to treat desynchronosis (jetlag) and improve the passengers’ energy levels.”

3D-printed components

Kia used 3D-printed components for the first time in the Telluride concept to add a distinct, modern design edge to interior parts like the dashboard, steering wheel and door panels.

Tiger nose, Dark Pyrite Green and 22-inch wheels

Designed in the California-based Kia Design Center America, the Kia Telluride concept uses the Kia “Tiger nose” front-end. 

The unusual retro-inspired olive-green-ish paint is called Dark Pyrite Green, extending its distinction as something unique.

A sizable 9.5 inches longer than the Kia Sorento, the Kia Telluride rides on 275/45 R22 tyres – yes, 22-inch wheels… on a Kia.

Kia Telluride copied from Volvo XC90?

Yes, very creative on the technology front… but, rather than create more totally unique-looking SUVs like the outgoing Sportage (to be replaced by the new Sportage soon) which played a lead role in bringing Kia to the surface, the Kia Telluride concept clearly copies styling inspiration from the new Volvo XC90 – look at it in profile to see the whole square stance very similar to the big Volvo, and even the window line tracing-papers the XC90 full-size SUV.  The Volvo-trademark elongated taillights have been copied, too, and simply flipped to appear at the bottom rather than along the top of the tailgate.

Utopian fantasy?

Kia states there are currently no plans to produce the Telluride, though as Kia has a history of turning concepts into resembling production cars, the Kia Telluride concept (or a full-size SUV) is “anything but a utopian fantasy”.