Photo: KindelAuto on YouTube / EFTM on TikTok / edited
Slated for global rollout in 2025, the Kia Tasman is a body-on-frame truck coming to markets that include Australia, South Korea, South Africa, and the Middle East. Defined by the South Korean manufacturer as being a C-segment lifestyle truck – whatever that means – the newcomer has been recently spied in the United States and Australia.
The camouflaged prototype spotted in the United States by KindelAuto is camouflaged like there's no tomorrow. Even so, it's pretty easy to tell that we are dealing with a dual cab, a relatively short box, and body-on-frame construction. The Michigan-plated truck is equipped with six-spoke alloys attached to hubs by means of six lug nuts per wheel. The rubber comes in the form of Bridgestone all-terrain tires.
Spied in Australia with the steering wheel on the left rather than the right side, the second prototype comes courtesy of men's lifestyle magazine EFTM. Someone who doesn't appear to be on Kia's payroll somehow unlocks and enters the camo'd prototype, revealing pretty much everything there is to interior design. Standout goodies include a digital instrument cluster, a landscape-oriented touchscreen infotainment system, plenty of physical buttons and switches, as well as a column shifter.
The footage also shows a central tunnel with two spots for devices with Qi wireless charging, two cup holders, and a wide center armrest. Something that looks a bit off is the somewhat hexagonal steering wheel. C8 Corvette and BMW iX much? Thankfully, the steering wheel controls are all physical. The honeycomb-style plastic air vents appear to be on the cheap side of plastic air vents, and heaven only knows how that plastic will hold up in the Australian sun after 5 years of exposure.
Plastic door cards, what appears to be plastic door handles, and surprisingly large door pockets also need to be mentioned. In the Land Down Under, the 2025 Kia Tasman will allegedly pack a 2.2-liter turbo diesel I4 connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Both rear- and four-wheel drive are in the offing. Hearsay suggests a V6 as well, although it's not clear if Kia plans to use the Smartstream D3.0 or the Smartstream FR G3.5T.
Photo: Kia
Internally referred to as TK, the Tasman has to prove itself against the likes of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Because of its ladder-frame chassis, prospective customers should look forward to a payload of approximately 1,000 kilograms (make that 2,205 pounds) and a maximum towing capacity no higher than 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds).
Kia hasn't confirmed the Tasman for North America, which makes the stateside prototype sighting all that more intriguing. A full-electric truck is under development as well, although it's not clear whether its chassis is shared or derived from the Tasman. The mystery electric truck is supposed to be a full-size model à la the Ford F-150 Lighting, Chevy Silverado EV, and the GMC Sierra EV.
Teased at the beginning of April 2024, the heavily anticipated Tasman could be twinned with the Kia Mohave body-on-frame sport utility vehicle. Kia sold the first-generation Mohave in the United States as the Borrego, but after a single model year (2009), the automaker pulled the plug on it due to abysmally poor sales. Between calendar years 2008 and 2011, Borrego sales totaled 22,768 units.
To be produced in South Korea, the Tasman will face stiff competition in Australia and other Indo-Pacific countries. The Ranger and Hilux are hugely popular in this part of the world, and the low-cost Hilux Champ is especially popular in emerging markets such as Thailand and Indonesia.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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