After the live showrooms at the NAIAS, it’s time for interviews, and at this time Peter Schreyer has confirmed to Australian magazine GOAuto at the Detroit Motor Show that the Kia Telluride has been given green light for production.
[ads id=”0″ style=”float:left;padding:6px;”]The Telluride concept was first showcased two years ago at the 2016 Detroit Motor Show and a production version would sit above the Sorento.
Kia Motors president and chief design officer Peter Schreyer confirmed to Australian journalists at the Detroit motor show today that the Korean car-maker was developing a production version of the Telluride, simply stating: “Yeah, we are working on that car, actually.”
It is unclear when the roadgoing version will be revealed, when production will kick off and where it will be built. Kia Motors Europe chief designer Gregory Guillaume said the production version of the SUV would not be offered in all markets the company operates – but should extend beyond the US.
“In Europe it doesn’t make that much sense,” he said. “It is a more difficult segment for us. We are pretty good with Sorento with large SUV in Europe.”
“I could imagine that there are other markets that would be interested in taking it … apart from America, so there could be other markets that are interested,” he said. “For example, the one we used to have before the Mohave (large SUV), it was pretty popular in Russia and those countries.” he added.
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The Telluride concept was based on a modified version of the Sorento platform and measured 5001mm from nose to tail, 1800mm from roof to road and 2009mm across its considerable flanks.
It used a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining Kia’s 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a 97kW electric motor for a total output of 298kW, with power sent to all four wheels and combined-cycle fuel consumption quoted at 7.8 litres per 100km.
The Telluride concept also had an unusual 2/2/3 seating layout and doors opening to 90 degrees for easier entry and exit, while the cabin was fitted with ‘Smart Sensors’ for monitoring occupants’ vital health information, which could be displayed on screens mounted in each door.
