-SEMA is a place where automobiles get to indulge their wildest fantasies. Even minivans. Which explains why Kia brought two wildly reimagined Sedona minivan concepts to the show. Both have come a long way from their mundane previous life of schlepping kids to school and soccer practice.
Photo Safari Sedona
-The Photo Safari Sedona has been transformed into a mobile photo platform. Is the name a subtle homage to Ansel Adams’s 1940s Pontiac Safari station wagon, from whose rooftop he photographed the American West? Could be, but it’s safe to say ol’ Ansel never had a trick setup like this.
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To start, the Sedona’s rear roof section is hacked off, creating an open rear bed (with no tailgate) behind the shortened passenger compartment—a configuration not unlike the Chevy Avalanche. The bed area contains various storage compartments and power outlets, and the window at the back of the passenger compartment opens. A hefty, custom roof rack made from tubular steel provides a mounting point for cameras, booms, and the like. The rack also sports a quartet of six-inch KC HiLites pro-sports gravity LED auxiliary lights (there are more on the other sides of the vehicle), to throw some serious wattage onto night scenes.
-Inside, the Photo Safari Sedona seats just two—the driver and one rear-seat passenger. The front passenger seat is removed to allow for gear stowage. The rear perch, meanwhile, is a Sparco racing seat that faces a custom-built desk with a computer for photo editing (a “military-grade” battery keeps it powered up without having to run the Kia’s engine). The seat is mounted on an ExtendoBed platform that can slide three feet outside of the vehicle or lock in place. Wireless headsets allow for communication between the driver and the photographer—although presumably they’re not needed if the snapper is sitting at the computer.
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Despite its rugged appearance, the Photo Safari Sedona does not have four-wheel drive. It does, however, promise a modicum of off-road capability thanks to an air suspension that can raise the ride height, and the van is fitted with Nitto Dura Grappler off-road tires. Hey, Ansel’s Pontiac never had all-wheel drive, either, and that guy was able to get around.
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Ballast Point Sedona
-Who hasn’t wanted to be the life of the party? Well, the Ballast Point Sedona brings the party wherever it goes, because it transforms into a bar. Ballast Point is a brewery based in San Diego, and its popular offerings can be served out of the back of this custom Sedona via the two taps, to which four half-kegs can be attached. The entire rear cap opens up, and the sides and tailgate flip down to form a bar surface.
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The Ballast Point Sedona actually made its debut at the 2014 SEMA show, but it’s back again by popular demand. It’s not hard to see why.
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