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Kia KCD12 Concept:: new Mohave SUV, or K900 companion?

Kia has handed down a shadowy teaser for a new concept dubbed KCD12, hinting at a potential new SUV model for its future line-up.


The biggest SUV in Kia’s current range is the three-row new Sorento, which is already 80mm longer than its predecessor - but it seems the Korean carmaker could have a view towards an even bigger offering.

That would be nothing new, however, with Kia previously offering the giant Mohave in overseas markets (in the US, it was known as the Borrego).

At 4879mm, the Mohave was a notably longer offering than even the new 4759mm Sorento - although both fall short of the new 5065mm Mazda CX-9 and the even more goliathan 5144mm Cadillac Escalade.

The KCD12 might then be a preview of a new-generation Mohave that would give Kia a rival to models like the CX-9, along with the new Kluger (4854mm long and known in the US as the Highlander) and Subaru’s Tribeca replacement, among others.

Kia has yet to confirm a production future for the KCD12, although it has described the big anodised green concept as a “possible future premium large SUV”.

Mention of its premium aspirations could mean that the KCD12 would be positioned alongside the big luxury-focused K900 sedan (also known as the K9 and Quoris) in the North American market.

That direction is hinted at by the KCD12’s design, which shares more in its styling with the big Range Rover than the new Sorento.

Whatever the KCD12’s future, don’t expect the Australian market to figure.

Speaking with CarAdvice today, Kia Australia communications manager Kevin Hepworth said that while details of the KCD12’s market potential are thin on the ground, all signs point to an exclusively left-hand-drive production plan.

Watch for the KCD12 to make its debut at next week’s Detroit auto show.

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