Kia has added another prestigious international design award to its growing collection, with the Vision Meta Turismo receiving a “Winner” title in the 2026 Red Dot Award: Design Concept Cars and Motorcycles category.
The recognition reinforces Kia’s position as a global design leader and reflects the continued influence of its ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, which focuses on creating progressive mobility solutions centred around people.
The Vision Meta Turismo made its global debut during Milan Design Week, where it was presented as a modern interpretation of the classic grand tourer for the digital era and the next generation of customers.
Why the Vision Meta Turismo stood out
Kia says the Vision Meta Turismo was recognised for a “Winner” Design Concept title as it combines:
- Performance-focused design
- Immersive digital interaction
- Human-centred user experiences
Exterior design
The concept features:
- An extreme cab-forward architecture
- Soft geometric surfaces
- A sculptural, technical appearance
The overall design aims to communicate speed, advanced technology and a new kind of user experience.
Interior design
Inside, Kia has focused on creating a multisensory driving experience by combining:
- Digital interface layers
- Intuitive physical controls
- Configurable experience modes
The result is a grand tourer designed for the digital age, aiming to make electric mobility more engaging and emotional.
Building on a strong Red Dot record
The award adds to Kia’s growing record at international design competitions.
During the 2025 Red Dot Award: Design Concept:
- PV5 WKNDR Concept received the ‘Best of the Best’ award
- Concept PV1, Concept EV2, Concept PV5 and Concept PV7 all received Winner awards
Kia’s previous ‘Best of the Best’ production vehicle winners include:
Also read: Kia EV4 bags top Red Dot honour
Also read: Vision Meta Turismo can be an electric Kia Stinger
Three pillars of Kia’s future mobility vision
The Vision Meta Turismo explores how future mobility can strengthen the relationship between speed, technology and human emotion through three key experiences, which include:
Performance Driving
Sports sedan proportions and a driver-focused cockpit are designed to maximise engagement behind the wheel.
Immersive Digital Interaction
Configurable modes and augmented digital layers allow occupants to interact with the vehicle in new ways.
Lounge-Like Comfort
The passenger area prioritises comfort and relaxation, creating a space that feels more like a lounge than a traditional cabin.
According to Kia, the concept demonstrates how future-focused design can help customers visualise new mobility experiences before they become a production reality.
Driver-focused technology and immersive experiences
The Vision Meta Turismo separates the driver and passenger experiences while ensuring both remain connected.
Driver’s cockpit is designed for maximum focus, control and immersion.
Passenger zone is created to emphasise comfort, relaxation and enjoyment of augmented reality content through a 3D head-up display (HUD).
A key feature is Kia’s Add-Gear modular interface, which combines configurable physical controls with digital layers to create faster, more intuitive interaction between occupants and the vehicle.
Three driving modes, three different experiences
The concept also introduces three configurable “driving worlds”, each offering a unique relationship between the car, its occupants and the surrounding environment.
- Speedster: Enhances performance driving with immersive visual, lighting and sound effects.
- Dreamer: Uses digital layers to create a more reflective and immersive urban driving experience.
- Gamer: Extends the connection between occupants and vehicle into gaming-inspired experiences while the car is stationary.
What did the Head of the Design say?
Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design, said, “It is always an honour for everyone at Kia to receive a prestigious Red Dot Award, as it reflects the creativity, commitment and dedication of the countless people involved.”
“The Vision Meta Turismo represents an opportunity for us to experiment, challenge ourselves, and imagine future user experiences through design.”
“It’s rewarding to see that work resonate with the jury, and motivating to see our ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy continue to connect with people around the world through our vision of future mobility.”
About the Red Dot Design Concept Award
Established in 2005, the Red Dot Award: Design Concept was created to recognise innovative concepts before they become commercial products.
The competition celebrates projects that push design boundaries and provide a glimpse into the future of how people may live, work and experience the world.
The Kia Vision Meta Turismo earned recognition in the Cars and Motorcycles category for 2026.
Kia also notes that it has regularly secured the competition’s highest honour, the ‘Best of the Best’ award, reserved for groundbreaking, category-defining designs.
Bottom line
The Vision Meta Turismo offers a glimpse into Kia’s future mobility ambitions, combining performance-focused design. digital experiences and human-centred technology.
Its 2026 Red Dot Design Concept Award reinforces Kia’s reputation for forward-thinking design and highlights how concept vehicles continue to shape the company’s future products, technologies and customer experiences.
Comments
New Comment