Kia Tasman

Kia Tasman
Kia Tasman
Overview
Manufacturer	Kia
Model code	TK
Production	2025 (to commence)
Assembly	South Korea: Hwaseong (Autoland Hwasung);
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size pickup truck
Body style	2-door regular cab; 4-door crew cab;
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive; Front-engine, four-wheel-drive;
Chassis	Body-on-frame
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol:; 2.5 L Smartstream G2.5 T-GDi I4; Diesel:; 2.2 L Smartstream D2.2 CRDi Turbo I4;
Transmission	6-speed M6VR2 manual; 8-speed A8TR1-1 automatic;
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,270 mm (128.7 in)
Length	5,410 mm (213.0 in);
Width	1,930 mm (76.0 in)
Height	1,870–1,920 mm (73.6–75.6 in)

The Kia Tasman is a mid-size pickup truck to be produced by South Korean manufacturer Kia in 2025. It is built on a body-on-frame chassis, and powered by four-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel engines.^[2]

It was unveiled simultaneously on 29 October 2024 at the Jeddah International Motor Show, in Saudi Arabia and Hobart, Tasmania.^[3]

Etymology

The vehicle is named after the Tasman Sea, located between Australia and New Zealand. According to Kia, the name was chosen due to the importance of the Australian and New Zealand markets for the vehicle.^[4]

Overview

The Tasman will be produced in South Korea, with Australia targeted to be one of the main market for the vehicle. Kia claimed the Tasman will be "the most Australian vehicle" it has ever developed.^[5] Kia Australia claimed a major involvement in the development of the pickup truck, and targeted around 10 percent of pickup truck market share in the country once the Tasman went on sale.^[6]

The Tasman will be built on an all-new platform, and slated to compete with the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Toyota Hilux, and will match their braked towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,700 lb) and a payload of around 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).^[7]^[8]

The name 'Tasman' was confirmed in April 2024,^[9] before the first official appearance of the Tasman on 23 April 2024, when Kia Australia released images showing the vehicle wrapped in artistic camouflage sticker designed by local artist Richard Boyd-Dunlop.^[10]

Availability

The initial rollout will target markets including Korea, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. Notably, Kia has announced that the Tasman will not be available in the United States or Canada, at least not for the 2025 model. ^[11]

References

^ "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Korean Ranger rival spied again". CarExpert. 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
^ Misoyannis, Alex (2024-03-10). "2025 Kia Tasman ute may be four-cylinder only – report". Drive. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
^ Evans, Dean. "Kia Tasman ute is officially here... in Saudi Arabia". Driven Car Guide. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
^ Evans, Dean (2024-10-30). "Kia Tasman reveal, part 1: the world's best Kia ute is bound for NZ". Driven Car Guide. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
^ Andrew, Chesterton (2024-03-02). "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Powertrains, towing, launch timing and everything else we know so far about crucial Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival - Car News". CarsGuide. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
^ Collie, Scott (2024-04-28). "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Everything we know about Ranger, HiLux rival". CarExpert. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
^ Robson, Tim (2023-06-07). "Ute beauty: Kia targets Ford Ranger for new commercial vehicle range". WhichCar. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
^ "2025 Kia Tasman ute launching with four-cylinder power - report". CarExpert. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
^ Mulach, Jordan (2024-04-11). "2025 Kia ute: Tasman name confirmed for "most Australian Kia yet"". CarExpert. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
^ "2025 Kia Tasman: First official look highlights Australian roots". CarExpert. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
^ "Kia Tasman Revealed: The Game-Changer Every Truck Lover Needs to See!". Orleans Kia. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2024-10-31.

External links

[1] "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Korean Ranger rival spied again". CarExpert. 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2024-05-10.

[2] Misoyannis, Alex (2024-03-10). "2025 Kia Tasman ute may be four-cylinder only – report". Drive. Retrieved 2024-05-02.

[3] Evans, Dean. "Kia Tasman ute is officially here... in Saudi Arabia". Driven Car Guide. Retrieved 2024-10-29.

[4] Evans, Dean (2024-10-30). "Kia Tasman reveal, part 1: the world's best Kia ute is bound for NZ". Driven Car Guide. Retrieved 2024-10-30.

[5] Andrew, Chesterton (2024-03-02). "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Powertrains, towing, launch timing and everything else we know so far about crucial Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival - Car News". CarsGuide. Retrieved 2024-05-02.

[6] Collie, Scott (2024-04-28). "2025 Kia Tasman ute: Everything we know about Ranger, HiLux rival". CarExpert. Retrieved 2024-05-02.

[7] Robson, Tim (2023-06-07). "Ute beauty: Kia targets Ford Ranger for new commercial vehicle range". WhichCar. Retrieved 2024-05-02.

[8] "2025 Kia Tasman ute launching with four-cylinder power - report". CarExpert. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-05-02.

[9] Mulach, Jordan (2024-04-11). "2025 Kia ute: Tasman name confirmed for "most Australian Kia yet"". CarExpert. Retrieved 2024-05-02.

[10] "2025 Kia Tasman: First official look highlights Australian roots". CarExpert. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-05-02.

[11] "Kia Tasman Revealed: The Game-Changer Every Truck Lover Needs to See!". Orleans Kia. 2024-10-31. Retrieved 2024-10-31.

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