Kia has released new photos and details of its four SEMA Show concepts based on the Sedona, Soul EV, and K900 production models.
Reflecting the theme “A Day at the Races,” Kia’s tuning concepts celebrate Kia’s 2014 Pirelli World Challenge Manufacturers Championship.
Two of the vehicles are inspired by the festive atmosphere experienced by fans of the Kia Racing team during a day at the track, the others pay homage to the brand’s racing success. There’s also a fifth exhibit, the 2015 Kia Optima race car.
Ballast Point Sedona
Built with the support of Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, the custom Sedona serves as a mobile bar. One of the Sedona’s power sliding doors has been welded shut, while the other remains fully functional to allow access for a bartender into the open-air cabin. The passenger compartment has been replaced by two functioning Micro Matic taps, a jockey box with 120-feet of copper beer-cooling coils and up to four half-barrel kegs of beer. After the show, this Sedona will serve as a fully functioning marketing display vehicle for the San Diego-based craft brewery.
Ultimate Karting Sedona
The second Sedona-based concept is dedicated to karting enthusiasts, finding a new purpose in life as a kart hauler. The vehicle can carry two karts, a CRG Bambino on the roof and a CRG Road Rebel shifter in the custom trailer. The Ultimate Karting Sedona’s interior has been converted into a mobile garage to carry the necessary tools, spares and supplies.
Smitten Ice Cream Soul EV
Kia’s interpretation of an ice cream truck is based on the Soul EV, which has also received a matching trailer. Built with San Francisco-based Smitten Ice Cream which has supplied the high-tech patented Brrr ice cream machine, the Smitten Ice Cream Soul EV features a compartment specifically designed to store dewars, the custom tanks filled with the liquid nitrogen needed to instantly freeze Smitten’s ice cream. Following the SEMA show, the street-legal Smitten Soul EV will operate as a catering/marketing display vehicle for the Smitten Ice Cream Company.
High-Performance K900
This K900-based study showcases the personalization potential of Kia’s flagship sedan and is the vehicle Kia Racing drivers Mark Wilkins and Nic Jönsson would like to drive to and from the track. The sedan features a unique body kit with carbon fiber inserts, custom-blended gray paint, blacked-out chrome trim and massive 21-inch gloss-black HRE RS100 wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires.
The interior gains luxurious tan leather seats with black suede accents and bespoke touches such as 11-inch seatback monitors showing in-car footage from iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations. The standard K900’s 420hp 5.0-liter V8 has been pushed to near 650hp thanks to a unique Garrett 2871R twin-turbo application located… under the trunk. A lowered Eibach suspension and Ksport 8-piston brakes paired with 15-inch cross-drilled rotors complete the package.
Pirelli World Challenge GTS Optima
Finally, Kia Racing is showcasing a new livery of its Optima racer for the 2015 season. The No. 38 B.R.A.K.E.S. Optima turbo uses the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder GDI engine found in the Kia Optima SX and SXL, but with a power output increased from the stock 274 hp to about 368 hp. Mated to a six-speed sequential transmission, the Kia Racing Optima has a top speed of 160 mph (257 km/h).