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The Kia Telluride SUV concept was unveiled for the first time at the 2016 North American International Auto Show, and Kia is previewing the 2020 production model set for next year with another game on the eight places. The new full-size SUV gets the magical touch of fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, in fact, with a collection of tracks inspired from Texas to the 2018 New York Fashion Week.
A fashion show may not seem like the obvious place for a family car, but according to the designer, it's not such a strange combination. "My mom has driven me to school in East Texas in a Kia Sedona, and my worship for the brand is deep," Maxwell insists. "When I left Marfa, Texas, where I designed my SS'19 collection, I started talking with Kia. I wanted a partner who could meet a need in Marfa's public school system and Kia was looking to create a unique integration for their new Telluride.
The result is a bespoke version of the Kia Telluride 2020 that pays homage to Maxwell's Texan roots. The interior is covered in natural wood to create a true Texan ambience, while the dashboard, handles and door panels feature dual stitched leather trimmings inspired by the saddle. Even the door handles and mirrors are treated with the same leather treatment. We're not sure how the outside leather treatments resist in the real world, but it clearly shows the big Telluride theme right from the start.
Leather is not the only differentiator of Telluride's final production that will end up in the dealerships. There is a custom front bumper with integrated round fog lamps and a multitude of auxiliary lights under the grille. Take a closer look and you will also find a unique leather tongue. The custom rear bumper is equipped with a standard trailer receiver for easy towing.
Fashionable maybe, but Kia does not sacrifice functionality in the process. The front and rear skid plates should protect the underbody from scratches, while giving the SUV a more aggressive and focused look. More obvious is the tuba, which will allow drivers to forge deep water crossings without drowning the engine. It even comes with custom side sills and 20-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in large off-road tires. The spare wheel is cleverly mounted in the tailgate and secured by double stitched leather straps.
Finally, the roof is treated with a roof rack made of wood and aluminum to make the final touch. The Kia Telluride Texas Edition 2020 is covered by the same dark green paint job that we saw on the concept that debuted in Detroit two years ago.
"Telluride brings together Kia's SUV lineup and has opened a new and surprising path with its debut at New York Fashion Week," said Saad Chehab, vice president of marketing communications at Kia Motors America. "Only such a forward-thinking brand as Kia could partner with Brandon Maxwell to launch the Telluride before its official debut at the North American International Auto Show in January."
The production version will be a little more practical than this unique piece upholstered in leather, of course. We are still waiting for official confirmation on the powertrain choices, but the Telluride 2019 will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine. What we would really like to see, however, is the electrified power train concept car: it combined a 130 horsepower electric motor with the gasoline engine to produce about 400 horsepower. If put into production, the eight seats could even reach 30 mpg on the combined cycle.
Kia and Brandon Maxwell will donate a "substantial portion" of the proceeds of the fashion show to the public school system in Marfa, Texas. The Kia Telluride production model, for its part, will be manufactured in West Point, Georgia, and will be available from Kia dealers in the US in early 2019.
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