The SEMA Show always includes a slew of questionably customized cars, but sometimes manufacturers release tricked out versions of everyday models that actually get people excited. This year, Kia returned to the SEMA Show with an all-terrain vengeance, showcasing two badass electrified and off-roadified vehicles: the EV9 Adventr concept and the PV5 Wkndr concept.
The EV9 Adventr is based on the currently available EV9 three-row electric SUV, but includes a three-inch lift, off-road wheels and tires, reinforced rocker panels, and a roof rack to ensure its off-road appeal. The Kia PV5 Wkndr is a lifted and specialized electric van intended to act as an escape pod for extended weekends in nature, with features like a gear head feature that provides an off-board storage space for gear when the vehicle is parked to maximize interior usability.
I think the Wkndr Van is a smart product, given its conceptual similarity to popular vehicles like the Mitsubishi Delica 4×4 adventure van that has somewhat recently come into favor among trendy folks in Los Angeles. Kia’s recently unveiled PBV (Purpose Beyond Vehicle) modular van platform already looks like a stylish and futuristic multi-purpose vehicle, but lifting it, painting it military green, adding chunky plastic trim and auxiliary lights really takes the van to a new level of cool. Its distinctive blunted nose and chunky tires harken back to the Volkswagen Vanagon Synchro, another iconic classic off-road capable weekend escape pod.
Kia has proposed four different sizes of van back, and it’s still slated to begin production of the PV5 next year, which is described as the most traditional van of the PBV lineup. The Wkndr concept takes the PV5’s already radical interior lounge concept and turns it into a rugged, flexible, and adventure-ready space that can fit many roles. Kia even retained one of the coolest features from the PBV concepts, the steering wheel that flips up and transforms into a reading lamp. While a production version of this concept may likely be very expensive, it’s encouraging to see concepts like these that show a bit of fun from an otherwise mundane carmaker.
