Category Archives: NEW CARS

NEW CARS

2027 Kia Telluride: Hidden in Plain Sight

Kia’s flagship SUV prepares for its next act — wrapped, rugged, and ready for the spotlight.

The Kia Telluride has spent the better part of five years proving it’s more than just a handsome face in a segment full of lumbering three-row SUVs. It’s become the darling of suburban driveways and overland Instagram feeds alike. Now, as the all-new 2027 model readies for its global debut on November 20 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Kia is giving us a tantalizing taste of what’s to come—without really showing us anything at all.

This week, Kia dropped a set of images and a high-action video of a camouflaged pre-production Telluride storming through California’s Alabama Hills, its body cloaked in a kaleidoscopic wrap that could double as modern art. Forget the usual black-and-white swirls of spy prototypes; this one looks like Keith Haring met a CAD designer and decided to go hiking.

“Designing a wrap for Telluride is far different than designing the vehicle beneath the vinyl,” said Tom Kearns, Kia America’s Vice President and Senior Chief Designer. “We decided to approach the project from a different angle—hiding it in plain sight.”

Art Meets Engineering

The wrap is more than camouflage—it’s concept art. The design overlays hundreds of Telluride sketches, intersecting outlines and silhouettes that obscure the SUV’s shape while simultaneously hinting at it. Kearns and his team drew inspiration from Mr. Doodle (Sam Cox) and Keith Haring, artists who mastered chaos through simple lines. The end result: a rolling storyboard of the Telluride’s design evolution, finished in a color gradient that fades from warm orange to cool purple. Orange ties into the SUV’s amber DRLs up front; purple closes the loop at the rear, mirroring Kia’s “Opposites United” philosophy.

Introduced in 2021 by Karim Habib, Kia’s Executive VP and Head of Global Design, “Opposites United” blends natural contrasts—sharp versus sculptural, tension versus serenity, power versus grace—into a unified design language. And yes, even a camouflage wrap can channel that.

Geography Lesson Included

Look closely and you’ll spot map coordinates printed along the lower doors: 37.9375° N, 107.8123° W. Punch that into your GPS, and you’ll land in Telluride, Colorado, the SUV’s namesake. It’s a wink from Kia to enthusiasts who pay attention—one that connects the model’s identity to its rugged aspirations.

Trail-Tested Tease

Unlike most camouflaged test mules caught loafing on highways, Kia’s prototype went full adventure mode for its close-up. Filmed in the otherworldly terrain of the Alabama Hills, with the Sierra Nevada peaks looming in the distance, the Telluride prototype tackled steep grades, sandy washes, and rocky ledges like a vehicle with serious off-road credentials to prove.

“We wanted to show just how capable the all-new Telluride is,” said Russell Wager, Vice President of Marketing for Kia America. “Placing it in an environment that really pushed the boundaries gave us that opportunity.”

And that’s the point. Beneath the artistic disguise and clever marketing lies a serious test of engineering. Kia’s not only setting up the Telluride for its next generation of buyers—they’re reminding everyone that the badge on the hood has earned its place among the segment’s heavyweights.

What’s Next

Beyond the wrap and wilderness theatrics, details on the 2027 Telluride remain tightly under wraps—literally. Expect a full reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 20, where the camouflage comes off and Kia’s next-gen SUV shows its true face. If the current model’s trajectory is any indication, the new Telluride won’t just evolve—it’ll redefine what family luxury looks like in the mainstream SUV market.

Until then, this camouflaged crossover has done its job: keeping secrets while commanding attention.

Source: KIA

NEW CARS

2026 Maserati Grecale Folgore: The Trident’s Electric SUV Grows Sharper Teeth

Maserati’s electric revolution continues to gain momentum, and the 2026 Grecale Folgore stands as its most convincing proof yet. With the latest model year, Maserati isn’t just polishing the badge — it’s refining the substance beneath it. The Grecale Folgore MY26 debuts an all-new all-wheel-drive disconnection system, sharper efficiency management, and an even deeper layer of Italian craftsmanship. The result: a luxury performance SUV that’s as clever as it is charismatic.

A Smarter Way to Drive All Four

At the heart of the MY26 update lies a deceptively simple question: why send power to all four wheels when you don’t need to? Maserati’s engineers have answered that with a brand-new AWD Disconnect system, capable of physically disengaging the front axle from the hubs in just 500 milliseconds.

Unlike rival systems that merely cut power at the differential, Maserati’s setup goes a step further — it isolates the front drivetrain entirely. The payoff? Reduced drag, lower energy consumption, and up to 580 km (360 miles) of real-world range. When traction demands rise, the system snaps back into AWD mode seamlessly, with no driver input required.

Behind the scenes, a neural network of sensors and control units crunches thousands of data points per second — from torque demand to brake temperature to road gradient — ensuring the Grecale is always in its most efficient or most dynamic configuration. Think of it as the digital evolution of Maserati’s long-standing obsession with mechanical precision.

Charging Smarter, Not Harder

The Folgore continues to refine its approach to electric travel. Maserati’s EV Routing system has become an integral part of the experience — now joined by Dynamic Range Mapping, which gives a real-time visual of your remaining range on the navigation map. The system continuously adjusts based on your driving style, terrain, and even outside temperature.

Plug into an ultra-fast charger, and the Grecale preps itself for the session automatically. The battery pre-conditioning feature brings the pack to the optimal temperature before arrival, trimming precious minutes off charging times. It’s a small touch that shows Maserati understands the modern EV driver values speed — both on the road and at the plug.

Crafted Comfort, Italian Soul

Step inside, and the Folgore’s cabin continues to balance modern minimalism with the tactile warmth of Italian luxury. New interior configurations debut with the MY26, including Premium Pelle Ghiaccio and two striking sport themes — Nero/Rosso and Nero/Giallo. For the true connoisseurs, Maserati’s Fuoriserie customization program continues to expand, offering 32 exterior colors, eight bespoke interiors, and exclusive wheel and brake caliper designs specific to the electric model.

Maserati’s attention to detail borders on obsessive. Stitching patterns, material contrasts, and surface finishes have been fine-tuned to amplify both visual harmony and emotional impact. Even before pressing the start button, the Grecale Folgore feels like an occasion.

The Broader Trident Family

The updated Grecale joins a revitalized Maserati lineup that now stretches from the elegant GranTurismo and GranCabrio to the hardcore MC20 and the GT2 Stradale racer. Within this ecosystem, the Grecale Folgore has a unique mission: to embody the spirit of grand touring in the age of electrification.

The MY26 model succeeds — not by chasing trends, but by merging cutting-edge technology with Maserati’s century-old promise of emotional performance.

Maserati’s Most Complete Electric SUV Yet

The 2026 Maserati Grecale Folgore doesn’t reinvent the SUV; it refines the electric one. It’s faster-thinking, more efficient, and more customizable than ever. By blending digital sophistication with Italian soul, Maserati has created an EV that doesn’t just wear the Trident — it earns it.

Source: Maserati

NEW CARS

Behind the Lens: The Porsche 718 Boxster S That Shoots the Stars

Hidden in a quiet corner of Porsche’s Leipzig facility lives a 718 Boxster S that doesn’t chase apexes—it films them. What started in 2017 as a training project for nine Porsche apprentices became one of the most unusual and capable camera cars in the brand’s ecosystem. And while it’s spent years behind the scenes, this stealthy roadster has quite the résumé.

The idea was born from necessity. The Porsche Experience Center Leipzig hosts countless on-track shoots, from promotional reels to magazine features. The previous “buggy”—a well-worn first-gen Boxster—couldn’t quite keep up with the latest machinery tearing around the circuit. A replacement was needed, one with precision, pace, and Porsche DNA.

Enter the 718 Boxster S. Under the guidance of training supervisor Carsten Pohle, nine apprentices in their second year of training were handed the keys—and a challenge: turn a two-seat sports car into a safe, stable, fully functional mobile film rig. The result is equal parts engineering exercise and creative problem-solving.

First, the roof had to go. The apprentices stripped away the soft-top and added a custom steel roll bar strong enough to support both safety harnesses and camera mounts. Matte black paint cloaks the body to kill reflections—a small but crucial detail when every frame counts.

Then came the mounts. Steel tube frames sprouted from the front, rear, and sides, giving directors a full 360 degrees of filming flexibility. Even the roll bar doubles as a high-mounted camera platform. It’s a Boxster with more rigging points than a Hollywood soundstage.

Inside, safety and practicality rule. Both luggage compartments are padded and fitted with harness systems to secure gear (and occasionally, photographers). A small standing platform between the front seats and rear trunk offers a stable base for shooting on the move, complete with PPE and safety tethers.

But Porsche being Porsche, functionality didn’t stop at the hardware. The apprentices integrated internal wiring that allows cameras to connect directly to a laptop—securely fastened, of course—in the passenger area. An onboard inverter keeps all equipment charged, meaning the Boxster can roll all day without missing a shot.

Since its transformation, the 718 camera car has been a fixture on the Leipzig track, filming everything from driving experiences to media content. It’s even worked for Motor Presse Stuttgart—the publisher behind auto motor und sport—and once found itself filming none other than rally legend Walter Röhrl. Most recently, it was spotted chasing hillclimb specials at the Tutto Bene event near Lake Maggiore.

In true Porsche fashion, this one-off creation blends performance and precision in equal measure. It may not set lap records, but it captures them in stunning clarity. And for the nine apprentices who built it, this blacked-out Boxster represents something bigger than a training project—it’s proof that passion and craftsmanship can turn even a mid-engine sports car into a cinematographer’s dream.

Source: Porsche