The 2021 Rebelle Rally is set to take place in just a few days! This is an all-out desert fiasco demanding all forms of extreme navigation, Kia will have two entries: a pair of 2022 Sorento PHEVs that will represent the “electrified” designation.
Seeing its official worldwide launch last year, the Rebelle Rally is the perfect opportunity for EVs, plug-in hybrids, and conventional hybrids to demonstrate their abilities off-road. The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is part of the Plan S electrification strategy, and a few of the most talented female drivers in the nation are introducing the PHEV to Kia consumers as a new, electrified means of enjoying the various trails and opportunities for solitude in the great outdoors.
During last year’s race, the Kia Telluride scored a close second during the X-cross class, and for 2021, Alyssia Roenigk and her seasoned spotter Sabrina Howells are pairing up again to crush this challenge! We are confident they will outpace the 4x4 group tackling the Imperial Sand Dunes just as they did last time. The PHEV is the perfect vehicle for a task that requires precision steering, aptitude, and thorough knowledge of every component of the vehicle as it works in unison with the driver.
At the helm of the second Sorento PHEV is professional rally driver Verena Meia, who has a winning background in motorsports. She’ll race with her grade-A navigator Tana White, who has demonstrated her mastery of everything a driver can come across during a rally! On top of being one of the odds-on favorites during the Rebelle Rally, Kia America is also proud to be a Rebelle Rally sponsor, a partnership that has felt like a natural fit since day one.
The plug-in hybrids competing during this rally will see minimal modifications, and their design will draw noticeable inspiration from adventure and outdoor concepts we have seen in the past. The 2022 PHEV boasts an EPA-estimated 32-mile pure electric driving range, which is at the top of the list in its class of 3-row PHEV SUVs. The Rebelle Rally will test participants over eight grueling days of competition and is not merely for speed, but also measures expertise needed for hidden checkpoints, distance reading maps, roadbook, and valuable compass skills. The Rebelle Rally represents a huge chance for these talented women to shine and show the world just how thoroughly authentic, raw, and though they all are!
