A few weeks after Kia Australia launched an engaging promotional campaign for its forthcoming pickup truck, debating what it should be called, it now has a name. It will be called the Kia Tasman, as we had long suspected. Last year, the company trademarked the Tasman moniker, drawing inspiration from the Tasman Sea, which lies between Australia and New Zealand, as well as the explorer Abel Tasman, who discovered Australia’s island state of Tasmania. It’s a fitting name for a vehicle that will consider Australia one of its most important markets.
The Korean company states that ‘Tasman’
was originally suggested by Kia Australia and selected from a pool of names
sourced from various global markets. It further noted that the Tasman has been
“crafted with a variety of work, trade, and leisure activities in mind” and is
scheduled for launch in 2025. The mid-size pickup truck has been developed as a
direct competitor to the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Isuzu D-Max. It will
feature a boxy appearance dominated by plenty of straight lines and sharp edge,
Additionally, it will come equipped with vertical LED daytime running lights,
similar to those seen on the Sorento and EV9. Inside the cabin, utilitarian
elements will be prevalent, catering to the vehicle’s aim of conquering the
rugged terrain of Australia.
It is unclear if the Kia Tasman will be
sold in the United States, but it seems unlikely unless the brand commits to
local production to avoid the so-called Chicken Tax, which imposes a 25 percent
tariff on foreign-made trucks. While many technical details about the Tasman
remain under wraps, Kia Australia has confirmed it will feature a diesel
powertrain, likely the brand’s 2.2-liter CRDi four-cylinder mill. It’s possible
that a larger 3.0-liter turbo-diesel could be offered.
Kia is also developing a second pickup
truck for global markets, including the U.S. This model will be all-electric
and is expected to be built on the existing E-GMP platform.
