[THE INVESTOR] Kia Motors said on Jan. 18 that it is considering the launch of Telluride in the United States next year.

“Telluride is in the development stage and the company has yet to decide whether to sell the vehicle in Korea and overseas markets other than the US,” a company spokesman said.

Kia unveiled the plug-in hybrid electric SUV at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where it received good reviews. The vehicle could be powered by a 3.5-liter gasoline engine and a 130-horsepower electric motor, the company said.

The move to consider the launch of a car that was only shown in the form of a concept comes as Kia is scrambling to get new SUV models into the critical North American market, where demand is high for SUVs and pickup trucks.

Telluride is expected to come with a strong exterior design, which will feature the carmaker’s distinct “tiger nose” grille, and good fuel economy due to its hybrid system. The car is expected to have a luxury-oriented yet futuristic interior to further bolster its appeal.

By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)