A prototype of a large, three-row Kia SUV, shown in concept form at the 2016 Detroit auto show as the Kia Telluride, has already been spotted testing with little to no camo ahead of its expected market debut next year. The SUV was snapped by Instagram user saudi_shift, revealing the wide, GMC Yukon-like front fascia, tall hood and very vertical headlights of the upcoming model.

The Telluride concept was a bit of a surprise at the Detroit show two years ago, but it was not a new direction per se for Kia: The Korean brand offered the full-size Borrego SUV in the U.S. for a grand total of one model year in 2009 -- almost an undisputed record for a major automaker in the U.S. in the 21st century. The Borrego, with its optional 4.6-liter V8, fell victim to, among other things, the economic crisis, as well as the more modestly priced Kia Sorento, which offered about 80 percent of what the Borrego did and at a much easier-to-swallow price point for Kia buyers.

Nevertheless, the 2016 Telluride concept was very well received at the time and it was noted that Kia had clearly spent a lot of time on it, pointing to a production version in the near future.

The Telluride concept was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 paired with a plug-in hybrid system, good for a combined 400 hp. The concept demonstrated Kia's new front-wheel-drive platform, though it is almost assured that in production guise it will be offered with all-wheel drive as well -- a requirement in this segment.

"The Kia Telluride makes an aesthetic statement for the Kia brand as a bold, all-new luxury SUV with an abundance of advanced technology, focusing particular attention on the experience and comfort of second-row occupants," Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America, said in January 2016. "Longer, wider and taller than the recently redesigned Sorento CUV, Telluride allows us to envision what a full-size seven-passenger SUV from Kia could look like."

As another Golden Age of the SUV is upon us, Kia and Hyundai are both planning to revisit the full-size SUV segment with a shared platform: Hyundai's version is likely to be called Palisade and was previewed separately by the Grandmaster concept earlier this year at the Busan motor show in South Korea.

When might we see the production version of the Kia SUV?

Given the expectation that Kia's version -- which may or may not be called Telluride in its final form -- will go on sale in 2019 as a 2020 model, the LA Auto Show later this year is a prime candidate for its debut. The Palisade is expected to be revealed around the same time, perhaps at the 2019 Detroit auto show.

This angle demonstrates the width of the upcoming SUV, with two vertical headlights set far apart. saudi_shift/Instagram

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io