Kia Motors has revealed its production version of the 2019 Kia Telluride at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, testing the waters in the world’s biggest market for big and bulky SUVs.

The Korean carmaker said on Tuesday its latest lineup of 23 production and tuned models displayed at the show open on Monday includes Telluride, Stinger, K9, Sportage and Stinger SEMA Show Car. The Telluride, which is the largest vehicle to ever wear a Kia badge, is built in West Point, Georgia and will be available for sale during the first half of this year chiefly in North America.

The Kia Telluride based on a robust ladder-frame chassis is squarish with the marquee’s signature tiger-nose grille and upright windshield.

The new eight-seat flagship SUV is powered by a 3.8-litre V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which produces 295hp and 36.2㎏f•m of torque.

Meanwhile, Kia’s sister brand Hyundai Motor is showcasing the Veloster N TCR, a high-performance racing car, and the Elantra GT N Line (i30 N Line in Korean market), which will be launched late this month in the U.S. Hyundai’s lineup at the show consists of 21 models.

By Han Ye-kyung and Minu Kim

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]