Dan Mihalascu is an accomplished automotive journalist with over two decades of automotive media work both internationally and in his home country of Romania.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, and he has reviewed (sometimes even raced) cars for most of his professional life.
Prior to joining HotCars.com in July 2025, Dan worked as a news writer and editor for InsideEVs.com, CarScoops.com and Autoevolution.com. He also has bylines at DriveMag.com and ConsumerAffairs.com, among other international media outlets.
In Romania, he wrote for car magazines, sports newspapers and even a TV news station.
Writing and cars aside, he loves reading, cycling, hiking and spending quality time with his family.
Kia America is planning a big publicity stunt on New Year’s Eve to mark the recent Los Angeles Auto Show debut of the second-generation Telluride flagship SUV.
The 2027 Kia Telluride accompanied by team members from the West Point, Georgia, assembly plant, will join New Year’s Eve revelers in Times Square for a different kind of street takeover.
The automaker says the publicity stunt is its way of thanking Kia Georgia team members that helped make the Telluride such a big success since the nameplate’s debut six years ago.
Starting at 11:59 pm EST on December 31st, Kia will completely take over the New Year’s Eve countdown clock at 1 Times Square in New York City. At the same time, the large screen located immediately below where the ball drops will showcase various elements of the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride.
There’s a lot going on with this three-row SUV, and here are some of the highlights.
Images will flash across the screen showing Telluride’s all-new exterior and sanctuary-like interior, as well as its technology and entertainment services as the last minute of 2025 ticks away. At the 20-second mark, the images will switch to celebrating Kia Georgia team members that are working on assembling the automaker’s flagship ICE SUV.
“We are pleased to celebrate our Kia Georgia Team Members at the turn of the New Year as both the Telluride and the change in calendar are transformative points in the Kia journey.”
Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America
The Kia Telluride is the brand’s first model designed specifically for the U.S. and assembled in the country. For its second generation, the Telluride introduces an all-new available hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine with a small 1.65-kWh lithium-ion battery and electric motors for a combined 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque.
This powertrain offers a Kia-estimated 35 mpg combined fuel economy and a driving range of 600 miles on a full tank. Kia also offers a standard 274-hp 2.5-liter turbo-four engine that replaces the outgoing model’s 3.8-liter V6.
After viral videos showed how easy certain Kia models could be stolen, the automaker is rolling out a massive retrofit.
The 2027 Telluride also debuts a new X-Pro adventure-focused grade that brings an enhanced suspension with 9.1-inch ground clearance, standard AWD with Terrain Mode, all-terrain tires, e-LSD, front/rear recovery hooks, a 5,500-lb towing capacity, Ground View Monitor, and more.
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The all-new Kia Telluride will be offered in LX, S, EX, SX and SX-Prestige trims, as well as stylish X-Line and capable X-Pro grades. Available in 7-seat and 8-seat configurations, the three-row SUV is expected to arrive in the United States in the first quarter of 2026. The Telluride is manufactured at Kia’s West Point, Georgia, plant alongside the Kia Sportage and Sorento SUVs, and the EV6 and EV9 electric vehicles.
Source: Kia America
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