Kia Unveils Two Awesome Sedona Concepts

The Kia Sedona is considered one of the best minivans on the market, yet the brand was compelled to produce a pair of concepts that could incredibly be considered upgrades. Revealed at the 2015 SEMA Show last week in Las Vegas, the two vehicles quickly took the internet by storm.

Check out the brand’s Photo Safari Sedona and Ballast Point Sedona via Joe Lorio of CarAndDriver.com. You may be inspired to modify your own 2016 Kia Sedona

The Photo Safari Sedona is a take on the classic Ansel Adam’s 1940s Pontiac Safari station wagon, although it’s certainly been modernized. The engineers chopped off the roof and decked out their new “truck bed” with storage space and outlets. To allow for additional storage room, the front passenger seat has been removed, leaving only two seats: the driver’s and one rear passenger’s.

The vehicle has been designed for photography, as engineers included “[a] hefty, custom roof rack made from tubular steel provides a mounting point” for all photo taking equipment. This rack also includes four six-inch KC HiLites pro-sports gravity LED auxiliary lights, meaning you’re not limited to driving during the day.

The rear seat is attached to a desk, allowing the cabin’s passengers to edit photos on the computer. The perch is actually a Sparco racing seat mounted to an ExtendoBed platform, allowing the seat to slide three feet outside of the vehicle. The driver can communicate with the photographer via wireless headsets.

The van doesn’t include four-wheel drive, but Lorio believes it should be capable of off-roading. There are four Nitto Dura Grappler off-road tires and an air suspension can raise the height of the vehicle. This would presumably make the modified Sedona a perfect choice for a scenic ride of the beaten path. The photos on Car and Driver show the van driving on grass, and we can only assume that the vehicle would be capable of driving on some more rugged terrain.

If that sounds a bit too adventurous for you, you might get a bigger kick out of the Ballast Point Sedona. The vehicle originally appeared at the 2014 SEMA show, and Lorio notes that the van was returning due to popular demand. This minivan can transform into a bar, with the San Diego-based Ballast Point brewery offering their beer via two taps and four kegs.

To create the makeshift bar, the driver needs to remove the rear cap and flip down the sides and tailgate. The vehicle will suddenly transform into a serving area, making the vehicle a clever option for tailgating and fairs. We’re sure this would be a wildly popular choice if it ever hit the market, although the inclusion of taps must not be allowed under some laws.

There’s little chance we’ll ever see these concepts hit the market, but a motivated Sedona owner could still create their personal take on these vehicles. If you’re looking for a project, see if you can modify your van into a photography tool, a bar, or perhaps you’re own innovation!

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