The 2027 Kia Telluride redesign maintains its popular boxy SUV shape, featuring clean, simple lines and sharper details. Tom Kearns, Head of Design at Kia Design Center America, has eagerly awaited the chance to reveal the new Telluride to the public. The design was completed some time ago, reflecting the long development timelines typical in the automotive industry.
The original Telluride gained many supporters for its straightforward, boxy appearance. Kearns aimed to build upon that foundation rather than starting anew. He explained,
"We've taken what people loved about the original, which is sort of this big old boxy SUV with not a lot of ornamentation on it. Very simple, very clean."
This simplicity delivers a subtle sophistication that remains intact in the new design. The team also infused fresh elements inspired by Kia's Opposites United philosophy, incorporating some unexpected touches.
Redesigning a popular model like the Telluride posed more challenges than creating the first version. Unlike the original, which started as a blank canvas, this redesign needed to honor the successful aspects while advancing the design.
Kearns highlighted the body side as a significant area of redesign. Above the wheels, the new Telluride features diamond shapes with sharp edges that lead into a small rectangular detail. The rest of the body retains soft, voluminous forms.
"These sort of diamond shapes have hard kind of crisp edges. And they land right at this mechanical little rectangle that is sort of unexpected."
This blend of familiar form with fresh details aims to keep the Telluride both recognizable and contemporary.
The 2027 Kia Telluride refresh balances the original's beloved boxy simplicity with bold new styling cues, preserving the model’s character while adding sharp, sophisticated details.
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