Riding on a modified Kia Sorento chassis, the Telluride is a visually striking, aggressive three-row SUV. On the outside, the Telluride combines smooth, rounded lines with a slab-sided appearance that is not too far removed from what we have seen from Range Rover and even the new Bentley Bentayga. Up front, Kia’s signature “tiger-nose” grille has been greatly enlarged, resulting in an imposing front fascia. Massive 22-inch wheels fill the bulging, plastic-clad fenders, and are wrapped in special Hankook Ventus ST 275/45R22 tires.
Inside, four captain’s chairs are trailed by a split-folding third row of seats. The seats have powerful sensors that collect and analyze each passenger’s vital health stats, which are displayed on the door panels. Once the data is collected, the car activates a series of LED light arrays that pulse to varying degrees in order to combat fatigue.
Underneath the attractive truck-ish body lies a naturally-aspirated V-6 with a hybrid motor, producing a combined 400 hp. Power is sent to all four wheels, and the hybrid drivetrain allows the Telluride concept to achieve over 30 mpg on the highway.
For now, the handsome three-row SUV remains a concept, but influences of the unique design could find their place on future models from the Korean automaker.
