Kumho Fortis SUV Preview

If you haven't yet come across the Kumho name as a car manufacturer so far, don't worry, you haven't missed out on the latest from the automotive world. Kumho is in fact a tire manufacturer, which ventured into creating an SUV with the single purpose to advertise their new tire technology.

Together with a designer named Rob Dolton, Kumho presents a strange looking SUV, with body panels (bumper sections, doors, bonnet, front wings and rear hatch) made from recycled tire rubber. As was to be expected from an envisioned car, the Fortis makes use of all the latest in environmentally friendly technologies.

The drivetrain can accommodate four electric motors, developing 100 hp each. The Fortis is designed as a four wheel drive vehicle, as you would normally expect from an SUV, but it can additionally be transformed into a 2 wheel drive one, either FWD or RWD.

The power of the Fortis is sourced from a lithium-ion battery pack, but other, yet undiscovered source of power can be accommodated.

And now to get to the reason for which the Fortis was built. Kumho allows us a peak at what may be the future in tire technology. To eliminate the need to change the tire depending on road and weather conditions, Kumho has devised a tread pattern for the tire which can be change according to the aforementioned requirements.

The new tire features metal bitters to be used on off-road surfaces, while when on normal roads, the tire inflates in such a way the rubber covers the respective bitters.

Of course, the technology is not yet here, neither is the odd looking SUV.
More images in the gallery below.