Kia Corporation has won a Red Dot Award 2026: Design Concept for its futuristic Kia Vision Meta Turismo, which was recognised in the ‘Cars and Motorcycles’ category.
The award further strengthens Kia’s position in global automotive design and highlights the continued application of its ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy in developing future mobility concepts.
The Kia Vision Meta Turismo made its global debut at Milan Design Week, where the concept presented Kia’s interpretation of the grand tourer for the digital age and a new generation of customers.
The concept combines a cab-forward exterior silhouette with a lounge-inspired interior, while integrating performance-focused driving dynamics with digital interaction.
According to Kia, the Vision Meta Turismo was recognised for translating its vision of future mobility into a concept that brings together performance, technology and human-centred design.
Its exterior features an extreme cab-forward architecture combined with soft geometric surfaces, creating what Kia describes as a modern and futuristic interpretation of a sports sedan.
The design is intended to communicate speed and advanced technology while introducing new approaches to the interaction between drivers, passengers and the vehicle.
Inside, the Vision Meta Turismo adopts separate but complementary spaces for the driver and passengers.
The driver cockpit is designed to prioritise focus, control and driving immersion, while the passenger area offers a more relaxed environment with access to augmented reality content through a 3D head-up display.
The concept also features Kia’s Add-Gear modular interface, which combines physical controls with digital layers and configurable functions.
Kia said the approach is designed to make interaction with the vehicle more intuitive and immediate while creating a more immersive electric mobility experience.
The Vision Meta Turismo also introduces three configurable driving modes: Speedster, Dreamer and Gamer.
The Speedster mode focuses on performance driving and uses visual, sound and lighting effects to heighten the driving experience.
The Dreamer mode uses digital layers to create a more reflective and immersive experience, particularly in urban environments.
The Gamer mode extends the relationship between the occupants and the vehicle into stationary, gaming-inspired experiences.
Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, said the recognition reflected the creativity and commitment of the teams involved in developing the concept.
“It is always an honor for everyone at Kia to receive a prestigious Red Dot Award, as it reflects the creativity, commitment and dedication of the countless people involved,” Habib said.
He described the Vision Meta Turismo as an opportunity for Kia’s design team to experiment, challenge existing ideas and explore future user experiences.
“The Vision Meta Turismo represents an opportunity for us to experiment, challenge ourselves, and imagine future user experiences through design,” he said.
Habib added that the award demonstrated the continued relevance of Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ philosophy in shaping the company’s vision of future mobility.
The latest recognition adds to Kia’s growing record at international design competitions.
In the 2025 Red Dot Award: Design Concept, the Kia PV5 WKNDR Concept was named ‘Best of the Best’, while the Kia Concept PV1, Concept EV2, Concept PV5 and Concept PV7 received ‘Winner’ accolades.
Kia’s previous Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ winners include the EV6 in 2022, EV9 in 2024, EV3 in 2025 and EV4 in 2026.
The Vision Meta Turismo award also reinforces Kia’s use of concept vehicles as a platform for exploring future products, interfaces and customer experiences.
Rather than representing a production vehicle, the concept demonstrates how Kia is exploring the convergence of performance, digital technology, comfort and human interaction in future electric mobility.
In Nigeria, the Kia brand is represented by Kia Motors Nigeria Ltd.
