Kia will compete in the all-women Rebelle Rally for the fourth consecutive year and this time, it is tackling the difficult off-roading adventure with a modified version of the Telluride in X-Pro trim.
The car manufacturer worked in partnership with Baja Forged in creating the special Telluride X-Pro. The capable SUV has been equipped with revised front and rear bumpers to improve its approach and departure angles. It has also been outfitted with a custom roof rack and tow points, an important addition should it ever get stuck during the event.
Helping to ensure all of the important mechanical elements are well taken care of are skidplates across the undercarriage. Baja Forged has also installed a set of 18-inch wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A K02 tires. A 1.5-inch lift kit has also been fitted, meaning the Telluride now has an improved 10-inches of ground clearance.
Read: 2023 Kia Telluride Gets Refreshed Looks And New Tougher Off-Road Trim Levels
“After a second-place win in the X-Cross class in its first year of competition, we are eager to see what more the Telluride X-Pro can do,” Kia America chief operating officer and executive vice president Steven Center said. “With BAJA FORGED modifications and a stellar team leading the way, we are confident the Telluride X-Pro will reach new heights of off-road capability and prove itself as a tough competitor once again.”
Piloting the Kia Telluride at this year’s rally will be Verena Mei and navigator Susie Saxon. The event will cover around 1,600 miles through deserts in California and Nevada.
Kia first competed in the Rebelle Rally back in 2020 with the Telluride. It then entered a pair of Sorento PHEVs in 2021 before bringing along a Sportage X-Pro to last year’s event where it finished in the top five.
