CES 2016: Kia teases big new SUV

Kia used last night's Consumer Electronics Show opening in Las Vegas to announce it will stage the world debut of an all-new "premium large SUV" concept at the Detroit motor show next week.

The announcement was accompanied by this single teaser image, revealing a five-door wagon with tall body proportions, a tapering roofline, narrow side glazing and a relatively long rear overhang.

All of this suggests the KCD12 concept, as it's codenamed, previews a replacement for the Mohave, a full-size three-row that was sold as the Borrego in the US, where it was effectively superseded by the Sorento in 2011.

Although it's still in production in Korea, Russia and Malaysia, the current Mohave/Borrego – first released in 2008 -- is sold only in Canada, Russia, the Middle East and central Asia.

Offering up to 10 seats and sold as an SUV alternative to the Carnival people-mover, the existing Borrego is produced with V6 petrol and diesel and V8 petrol engines.

If this new concept does indeed herald a replacement for the Borrego, it is again likely to be produced only in left-hand drive, meaning Kia's largest passenger models will remain the Sorento and Carnival here.

Designed at Kia’s California studio, the concept features rear-hinged rea 'suicide' doors. Obvious too is the concept’s long wheelbase, while exaggerated wheel-arches suggest that Kia is serious about offering decently sized wheels/tyres should the concept reach production.

Kia claims the concept "offers an abundance of advanced technology – including state-of-the-art health-and-wellness technology – and takes Kia’s design language in a bold new direction, suggesting styling of a possible future premium large SUV in the brand’s lineup".

Kia announced in November that it would reveal several significant products during 2016 as the company continues to reshape its design direction under the guidance of Peter Schreyer, who took control of Hyundai and Kia design in 2006.

Key among the new additions will be an all-new compact SUV already previewed by the Niro concept, which is expected to make its production debut at the Chicago show next month.

Kia's first baby SUV is unlikely to arrive before next year in Australia, where the Korean brand launches its redesigned Sportage mid-size SUV this month.