Kia’s Vision Meta Turismo is a peek at future performance EVs

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Kia is finally ready to reveal full details of its Vision Meta Turismo concept car after a brief glimpse in December. It’s clear the sports car is built to preview the brand’s long-term approach to performance EVs, including more to do while you’re not moving at all.

The angular-yet-sleek fastback design is meant to be consistent with the “Opposites United” design language seen in cars like the EV6, but offers a “lounge-inspired” interior that pays tribute to 1960s grand touring. That includes a front passenger seat that rotates 180-degrees to face the rear when parked (for social occasions) and a large, panoramic glass roof.

There’s even a virtual stick shift

The Vision Meta Turismo may be pitched as a touring car, but Kia includes several touches aimed at sporty driving on any road.

It centers on an “ultra-slim” instrument cluster, a breathable lightweight seat, analog controls (including optional add-ons), and a precise yet reportedly intuitive rectangular steering wheel inspired by video game controllers. A wide-angle augmented reality (AR) heads-up display provides an “immersive” experience while driving, according to Kia.

The concept also borrows Hyundai Ioniq N-series techniques to sway conventional sports car enthusiasts. A joystick-style virtual stick shift lets you row gears as if you were driving a gas-powered manual. Buttons provide both launch control for drag racing and a “GT Boost” that delivers an F1-style power surge. You can tune the suspension sensitivity, driving feel, and virtual engine sounds to suit your tastes.

This is a design exercise, so Kia isn’t providing horsepower or other technical capabilities.

Passenger features: AR and a gaming hub

You can race when you’re parked

Kia is betting heavily on AR as a draw for Vision Meta Turismo passengers, even when the car is standing still. On top of a driver-centric Speedster mode, there are Dreamer and Gamer modes that, respectively, cater to trips through “vibrant urban environments” (complete with AR glasses) and stationary fun.

The Gamer mode promises virtual racing using both the heads-up display and steering wheel, akin to playing some games in Tesla cars. There’s even an exterior projector to create a “group gaming hub,” so you and your friends can play in the parking lot after a long drive.

The front passenger seat’s posture is optimized for AR content through the heads-up display. The structure is separate from the rest of the interior to offer “relaxed, emotive” conditions.

Will Kia make a production model

Expect elements to reach future cars

Kia isn’t saying whether there will be a production version of the Vision Meta Turismo. As of this writing, the only way to see it is to visit Milan Design Week while it runs until April 26, 2026. We wouldn’t expect some traits, such as the gigantic wheels or nearly-all-glass roof, to ship in next-generation Kia EVs.

Like with many concept cars, however, there’s a real possibility that some elements will reach cars you can buy. Design cues and more practical features, such as the virtual gearshift, could find their way into other cars. Kia describes the one-off as a “futuristic vision” of evolving mobility.

A preview, not a prototype

In that light, the Vision Meta Turismo isn’t so much a prototype as a broad-strokes preview of where Kia’s performance-oriented cars are going next. The company wants to adapt its EVs to the modern automotive landscape, and that means experimenting with both visual changes and the overall in-car experience.

Source: Kia