Kia shifts further upmarket with Telluride hybrid

Kia’s evolution from an affordable car brand into a full-line, completely credible mainstream front-runner looks complete with the debut of the seven-seat Telluride plug-in hybrid.

Stacked with technology and built using everything from cutting edge multimedia to 3D printing systems, the Telluride has given a strong hint that Kia is set to deliver a full-sized SUV for the second time.

Taller, wider and longer than the Sorrento, the Telluride is a plug-in hybrid that’s also pitched as being more luxurious than Kia’s largest current production SUV.

A pure concept car, the Telluride is a three-row seven- seater with reverse-opening rear doors that open to 90 degrees and Kia hopes it will prove that it’s serious about moving even further upmarket.

"The Kia Telluride makes an aesthetic statement for the Kia brand as a bold, all-new luxury SUV with an abundance of advanced technology, focusing particular attention on the experience and comfort of second-row occupants," said Kia Design Centre America chief designer Tom Kearns.