Kia America Enters the 2023 Rebelle Rally with the Telluride X-Pro
Is everyone ready for another off-road race? Overseas, the Asia Cross Country Rally (AXCR) concluded in August, and coming up is a race a little more stateside. It’s the 2023 Rebelle Rally, the first all-women’s off-road rally. Automakers usually get in on the fun by donating or modifying a model from their lineup and interview a driver and navigator to win the race. Last year (2022), Kia America entered the Rebelle Rally for the third time since 2020. Returning for 2023, Kia America is taking on the off-road navigational challenge for the fourth consecutive year with a modified Kia Telluride.
So, what does the Rebelle Rally consist of? The longest competition of its kind in the lower 48 states, the rally covers 2000 kilometers (1,500 miles) and follows a rugged off-road course in the United States, spanning from Lake Tahoe to San Diego before ending in the sandy dunes of Glamis, CA. Sandy dunes can be the downfall of any vehicle, but with the right gear and equipment, a vehicle can dominate this race. Last year, the Sportage X-Pro handled the terrain fairly well, outfitted with Baja Forged front- and rear bumpers and tow points; skid plates in the front, rear, and underbody to keep the underbelly protected from sharp points and rocks; and 17-inch Rhino wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich® All-Terrain T/A K02 tires, sponsored by Michelin.
The “X-Pro” moniker is the name Kia uses for its more off-road capable trims, versus the “GT” moniker used for its high-performance sports cars. Entering the Telluride this year, the large SUV comes with an off-road treatment by BAJA FORGED, including a custom roof rack and front- and rear bumpers to increase approach and departure angles, tow points in case things go awry, skidplates for protecting the Telluride’s undercarriage, and 18-inch KMC716 wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich® All-Terrain T/A K02 tires. Made to go off-road, a 1.5-inch lift on top of the X-Pro’s increased ground clearance adds up to a total of 10 inches of ground clearance to conquer the Rebelle Rally off-road course. Sounds like the Telluride is ready to go.
“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…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.” – Steven Center, COO and EVP, Kia America
Teammates have been announced for the 2023 Rebelle Rally, with Verena Mei returning as the driver and Susie Saxten taking over as the navigator. Piloting the 2024 Telluride X-Pro through the California and Nevada deserts, this team is ready to take first place once again. The Telluride just missed first place in the X-Cross class back in 2020, whereas the two 2022 Sorento PHEVs earned second and third place last year, and the 2023 Sportage X-Pro finished among the top five. Going for gold this year, Kia America has pulled out all the stops to show what an X-Pro trim can do.
The 2023 Rebelle Rally takes place from October 12-21, 2023. Follow along with us and cheer on Kia America when you follow us on Miami Lakes Automall social media. You can also see for yourself what makes the X-Pro trim so great by checking out new Kia SUVs at Miami Lakes Automall.