Chris Bruce of Motor1.com reported
on the blog last week that the brand we love to represent so much every day
here at Jim Butler Kia of St
Louis has a secret vehicle debut slated for the upcoming Los Angeles
Auto Show. From Nov. 22 – Dec. 1st, attendees get to enjoy vehicles
on display, vehicle debuts, VIP guided tours, free test drives, and many other
events and appearances. Unfortunately for the masses of curious and excited Kia
fans, this release is pretty much under wraps and kept a complete secret.
Assuming that the vehicle pictured here is a production model and not a concept, the most
likely one to be presented is the next-gen Kia Sorento.
Judging by those photos, if this is the crossover in question it
possesses a bit more chiseled styling like the larger Telluride. Since rumors
do suggest that the Sorento will go on sale for the 2021 model year, this could
coincide with the timing of the LA Auto Show unveiling. Others have been
wondering if a new Optima is in the works, as some photos floating around the web show the K5 as a South
Korean version. This is the vehicle that we think would excite many: even
though it seems it's always crossover SUVs winning the popularity contest, a
new sedan certainly always turns heads at a star-studded auto show.
Some wonder if the Seltos is going to be the
secret contender at the LA Auto Show, but it does seem a bit less likely. After debuting in
India this summer, there has been speculation that a North American version is
possible. The current model touts a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine
with 175 horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 147 hp, or
turbodiesel 1.6 – liter with 134 hp. For a truly epic surprise, many attendees
would love nothing more than to check out Kia's pickup concept, but that is
allegedly not going to be out for another year.
It would also be startling to see a living and
breathing Imagine EV: the concept shown here is a
coupe-inspired crossover that could soon be our brand's range-topping electric
vehicle. The 21 high-resolution screens inside are one of the production
elements that could be a bit difficult to pull off on short notice, but as many
“dare to dream”, would be an impressive sight to see. The production-spec
Imagine was slated to ride on Hyundai and Kia's upcoming dedicated electrical
platform, but many specifics have not yet been made public. Even though some
dedicated fans on various Kia blogs thought it was a bit strange on the inside,
this is one amazingly handsome concept, and from a side glance looks like
everything futuristic cars were meant to dazzle us with.
