Kia gave us a sneak peak of its new luxury full-size crossover SUV at New York Fashion Week. The 2020 Kia Telluride took the stage alongside Brandon Maxwell’s Texas-inspired runway collection.
The 2020 Kia Telluride is an all-new model that will hit dealer showrooms in early 2019. The big eight-passenger luxury SUV was first shown as a concept vehicle at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
We caught our first glimpse of a much-closer-to-production vehicle this week at New York Fashion Week. But the 2020 Kia Telluride will officially debut at the International Auto Show in January.
2020 Kia Telluride
There is little real info out yet about the upcoming Telluride. What we do know is that it will be a V6-powered, full-size luxury crossover SUV. It will be “several inches” longer and wider than Kia’s seven-passenger Sorento midsize crossover SUV, according to Kia.
We also know that it was designed in Irvine, Calif., and will be manufactured in West Point, Ga. Despite Kia’s Korean roots, this is an American SUV through and through.
Kia Telluride at Fashion Week
The vehicle greeted onlookers at New York Fashion Week and gave a good glimpse of what’s to come. As part of Fashion Week, though, it’s a very stylized and accessorized version of what you’ll see on dealer lots.
Fashion designer Brandon Maxwell included the 2020 Kia Telluride in his latest Texas-inspired runway fashion collection. Saddle-themed, double-stitched leather accents throughout the build tied in the Texas motif. This custom leatherwork even graced the outside rearview mirrors, door handles, and roof rack. Natural wood accents inside and out also complemented the leather touches.
This show truck also carried a number of off-road accessories that give it real presence and capability. Skid plates, sidestep sills, and custom front and rear bumpers added some vehicle protection. A hidden winch, recovery hooks, off-road lights, a snorkel, and rear hatch spare-tire mount let you know this vehicle means business.
Plus, 30-inch (265/50R) all-terrain tires wrapped on 20-inch black alloy wheels finished off the aggressive look. And the SUV’s dark-green paint paid homage to the color shown on the concept Telluride from back in 2016.
