One of the latest trends in SUV culture is heaping on more additives to assure a dominating off-road ride, and the worldwide contest to be on top just keeps heating up! We've received word here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis that plans are in motion to create an extra-large and rugged SUV to take on the likes of the Toyota Prado, boasting a sizable mass on par with the other competition in the form of the LandCruiser. This gigantic new 4WD from Kia as of now does not have an exact release date, but 2023 is thought to be the general timeline for its expected reveal.
We haven't heard exactly what the name for the new rock-crawler may be, but it would likely brandish dual-range transmission, locking differentials, and ample ground clearance for proper off-road engagement. This would no doubt create an option for buyers that are craving even more in the means of rugged ability than is offered by the wildly popular Sorento, still a fantastic choice representing a slightly smaller segment. Kia has a huge interest in the successful completion of an upper-large off-road SUV and we have been looking in-depth into the development of a vehicle that could compete with the Nissan Patrol as well.
The coming year is the perfect time for us to put Toyota's strong showing of SUVs to the true test, and it may be where our muscular new 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder could see itself manifest into the useful form of development. Developed by Genesis, the straight-six will see its debut in the upcoming GV80 large SUV and cranks out 274 horsepower along with 434 lb-ft of torque. It is more than enough strength to dwarf the competition that shows up to the rumble with 2.8-liter 4-cylinder engines, and also would provide massive towing capacity.
We still are beaming about the multiple doses of praise and national awards we received for the Telluride SUV over the past year, but it is built on a car-like monocoque platform and being underpinned by a ladder-frame chassis offers more potential in the precarious and highly-protected underneath off-road game. Since we feel that our brand is already enjoying very solid ground in the SUV segment, we know wholeheartedly that it is now time to up the ante and hone in on off-road prowess.
Together with Hyundai, there was a substantial co-investment with Kia earlier this year that could very well result in brand-new vehicle construction such as this one. At first glance of the concept photos, the shiny elements make it look like it may not possess the grunt and grit to really get down and dirty, but the front skid plate and ground clearance are the first two instrumental components that allow it more freedom than any other predominantly urban SUV. We will offer updates and more details as they come to us!
