Kia Takes Aim At Escalade With The Telluride Concept
Kia has been trying to appeal to ballers—literally—with the LeBron-approved K900, and it’s now imagining an entry into the fullsize luxury SUV market with the Telluride Concept. Whimsical and gimmicky features aside, it’s a futuristic concept eying production reality.
Since gesture-driven infotainment is yesterday’s news, Kia aims for “health and wellness” features that include LED ceiling lighting, which unlike a Rolls Royce is supposed to emit therapeutic patterns to offset fatigue and jet lag. Within the seats are sensors that monitor heart rate and other vitals. There’s also a touch-sensitive interface in the rear center console, and up front the SUV features a fingerprint push start.
As a seven-seater, the Telluride is a hulky machine—its length of 196.9 inches slots between a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Cadillac Escalade. It’s clearly aimed at competing with the latter as an urban cruiser, evident by the 22-inch wheels and the gaping maw of a grill that gives it a surprisingly stately presence. Power comes from a 130-horsepower electric motor and a 270 horsepower V6 for a total of 400 horsepower going to all four wheels.
If the concept goes to production, some details likely wouldn’t make it, like the suicide doors and the rears seats playing doctor. Sales of the K900 have been tepid last year even with the price slashes, but this may give the company the luxury footing it needs—at least in concept form it’s fit for a king.
