Two months ago, Kia confirmed what many of has have been thinking for quite some time. The Telluride Concept that the automaker showed at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show would be turned into a production model. Building off of that announcement, Kia has now confirmed that the production model will look a lot like the concept version from two years ago. More importantly, the Telluride’s “look” will also shape the design of Kia’s other crossovers and SUVs, including the Soul, Sportage, and Sorento.

This has the makings of a great move on Kia’s part. A lot of people fell head over heels with the Telluride Concept. It was a far departure from crossovers and SUVs that emphasized curves over muscularity. Since Kia prepared it as a potential three-row SUV that would sit on top of its lineup, it needed to be imposing. And it was, in more ways than one.

The good news is that Kia isn’t going to deviate away from the things that made the Telluride Concept special. According to Motor Trend, the automaker plans to adopt the concept’s muscular looks into the production model. It’s unclear how far it’s willing to go to do that, but it is interesting to note that the concept SUV didn’t have a radical design in the first place. It already looked like a production model. If Kia plays this smart, it shouldn’t try to get too cute by taking too many design details away from the concept version.

I expect Kia to take that route, though I am prepared for a few surprises. The quad ice-cube-shaped LED headlights, for example, was one of the concept’s main design features. It helped bring the whole look of the Telluride together. I would want to see the same setup on the production model, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Kia opted for a different look.

The interior is where the changes are expected to happen. The futuristic yet minimalistic look worked on the concept, but I do think that Kia isn’t going with the same approach as far as the production model goes. Remember, this is going to be the company’s flagship SUV. As such, a certain amount of luxury should be expected. That could mean anything from Nappa leather, Alcantara, and a few padded surfaces to ensure that everything looks and feels expensive. Don’t be surprised to see some wood trim thrown in, too. While I’m at it, how about lots of cup holders, multiple USB ports, and plenty of storage spaces? That would go well with the production model considering that it’s expected to have a good amount of interior space to play with.

Its expected place in Kia’s crossover and SUV hierarchy could also mean that it’s not getting anything less than a V-6 engine. Fortunately, Kia already has a 3.3-liter V-6 in its inventory. It’s the same engine that the Sorento uses to produce 290 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque. Expect the Telluride to get a bump in power and torque just so the SUV can handle the additional weight that comes with being a larger vehicle.

Whatever happens, I’m excited to see what Kia’s plans for the production version of the Telluride Concept are. If it lives up to our expectations, Kia’s slowly building up an impressive lineup with models like this one and the Stinger GT in the fold. Now’s not the time to lose momentum, Kia.

References

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Kia Telluride.

Read our full review on the 2016 Kia Telluride Concept.

Read more Kia news.