The SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada is a great opportunity for car manufacturers and after market tuners to get together to collaborate on unique projects. We’ve already seen some of the creations from companies such as Ford, Hyundai, Scion, and even Chevrolet. Now it’s Kia’s turn to shine and we have four of their vehicles to show you starting off with my favorite, the Kia K900. If you liked the Hyundai Genesis AR550 with 550 horsepower then you might enjoy this one even more.
The High Performance Kia K900 showcases the personalization potential of Kia’s flagship sedan and is also the vehicle of choice for Kia Racing drivers Nic Jonsson and Mark Wilkins. The K900 sedan features a customized body kit with carbon-fiber inserts, custom gray paint job, chrome trim which has been blacked-out, and 21-inch HRE RS 100 wheels wrapped up in Pirelli performance tires.
The stock Kia K900 features a 5.0-liter V8 producing an impressive 420 horsepower but when you’re at a major car show, 650 horsepower is need to turn heads. Yes, this K900 has 650hp thanks to the Garret 2871R twin turbo setup which is located at the rear of the vehicle under the trunk. To complete the package, Eibach suspension and Ksport 8-piston brakes are paired with 15-inch cross-drilled rotors. The interior of the Kia K900 is already luxurious but this particular example gains tan leather seats with black suede accents, carbon fiber trim, and 11-inch monitors for the rear passengers.
The remaining four vehicles are not as impressive (to a consumer) but it might give you ideas for your own personal projects or perhaps ideas for your business vehicle.
Ballast Point Sedona
A bar in a minivan? As long as the driver is not drinking, game on! This Kia Sedona was built with the support of Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits which serves as a mobile bar. One of the power sliding doors on the Kia Sedona has been welded shut while the other remains functional as intended to allow access for the bartender into the open-air cabin. The front passenger seat has been replaced with two Micro Matic taps, a jockey box with 120-ft of copper beer-cooling coils, and up to four half-barrel kegs of beer. Once the 2014 SEMA Show is wrapped up, this van will be serving as a marketing display vehicle for the brewery.
Smitten Ice Cream Soul EV
Next on the list is the Kia Soul EV which is their take on an ice cream truck and features a matching trailer. Built with the cooperation from Smitten Ice Cream which supplied their high-tech patented Brrr icce cream machine for the build. The Smitten Ice Cream Soul EV features a compartment that is specifically designed to store dewars, the custom tanks filled with liquid nitrogen required to instantly freeze Smitten’s ice cream. After the show, the truck will go on to sell ice cream and be used as a marketing tool for Smitten Ice Cream Company.
Ultimate Karting Sedona
The second Sedona does not feature any booze but it does have something for karting enthusiasts. This customized Kia Sedona is capable of hauling two karts, a CRG Bambino on top of the roof and a 125cc CRG Road Rebel Shifter in a trailer. The interior of the van has been converted into a mobile garage to store all the necessary equipment required such as tool, supplies, and spares.
Pirelli World Challenge GTS Optima
The stock Kia Optima 2.0 turbo has more than adequate power for today’s family man but we are talking about the SEMA Show here. This No. 38 B.R.A.K.E.S Optima turbo still uses the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine found on models such as SX and SXL but this particular vehicle has been overhauled to output an impressive 368 horsepower. The new found power is delivered via a six-speed sequential transmission and the Kia Racing Optima has reached speeds as high as 160mph.
Minus the racing theme, this modified Kia Optima would be great as a family sedan.
