Kia Reveals its Tasman Pickup Truck – Or, Does It?
Kia has finally decided to reveal its latest pickup truck launch – the Tasman – and, according to some opinions online, it’s dividing motorists. And, all we have so far is an image and a few details!
The Tasman will be the company’s first-ever light-duty commercial truck. It’s expected to hit the showrooms in 2025, and Kia seems pretty confident in its potential – as you’d expect, really!
Kia has released an official image of the Tasman truck emblazoned with artwork by Richard Boyd-Dunlop, which partially seems to be setting tongues wagging.
The company has already teased the Tasman to prospective buyers through various footage and social media posts, but this latest release is the best vantage point we’ve had yet on the new vehicle.
It boasts all-terrain tires, meaning it should be able to tackle a wide range of surfaces, an air dam under its rear bumper (which might also have steps), apparent roof rails, and stand-out headlights. This, at least, is what eagle-eyed Kia fans and motoring enthusiasts have put together from images released.
Kia isn’t a company likely to let people down—its lines are still immensely popular—but the latest image release has left some potential buyers and reviewers skeptical about how original the vehicle will be once it takes to the road.
We’re even some way away from the Tasman leaving the showroom. For now, Kia has announced that the vehicle will launch first in Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and Africa.
In fact, choosing an Australian artist was no coincidence. Kia has stated that Boyd-Dunlop’s artwork was meant to showcase the Australian-inspired character of the vehicle. And, as you might have guessed, the name “Tasman” comes from the Australian island of Tasmania. Full marks for creativity!
Other than what it looks like, we don’t have much information on the upcoming Kia Tasman. Kia has not revealed anything about its powertrains, underpinnings, or whether they plan on shipping it farther west in the future.
We don’t have interior shots of the vehicle available yet, either, though there are plenty of rumours going around. Many believe this new pickup is likely to carry a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine—much like other Kias—meaning we should also expect around 200 horsepower.
However, much of this is speculation. Images and footage of the Tasman released so far haven’t exactly set the motoring world on fire, but if Kia is still to be trusted, we can expect great things from an off-roader based on the Australian standard.
Experts and critics are somewhat worried that the Tasman simply won’t break from the norm—and that, despite the artwork, its shape remains a little boring and safe!
Who’s to say what will transpire between now and the date the pickup is released, however – perhaps it’ll become a sleeper hit and prove all the naysayers wrong. If you’re a Kia fanatic and are looking forward to their future pickups, stick with us for more news as soon as we have it.