Kia Tugga? Kia Buddy? Kia Big Dell?
It won’t be called any of those names, but Kia has finally officially confirmed its worst-kept secret, launching a public ad campaign for its upcoming new ute. Kia has enlisted the help of no fewer than 20 Australian sporting superstars, including Steve Waugh, Ash Barty, Buddy Franklin, Wendell Sailor and MacKenzie Arnold, for the new television spot.
But while the famous faces debate what the new ute will be called, Kia does tease the long-expected name, with rugby league star Alfie Langer throwing a dart and hitting a map right on the ‘Tasman Sea’ label. The setting for the ad is a country pub, which is revealed to be called the ‘Hotel Tas…’ in another subtle giveaway.
COMING SOON: 2025 Kia Tasman ute
As previously reported, the Kia Tasman will be a proper one-tonne, dual-cab ute built on an all-new ladder-frame chassis. It’s likely to be powered by Kia’s existing 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine, which makes a respectable 148kW of power and 440Nm of torque, while the 200kW/332Nm 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine might also be an option.
The launch of the commercial coincides with the opening of expressions of interest from prospective customers, with confirmation the new model will arrive in local showrooms in 2025.
“Kia Australia has always been very candid about our desire to bring a Light Commercial Vehicle to the local market, so it is with great excitement that we are taking an important step towards it becoming a reality,” said Damien Meredith, Kia Australia’s CEO.
Kia Australia general manager of marketing, Dean Norbiato, explained the rationale behind the star-studded commercial.
“We were looking for a unique and quintessentially Aussie way to launch Kia’s most Australian product ever – our ute – and what better way than to bring together our country’s most iconic themes – sporting heroes, nicknames and an old-fashioned Aussie watering hole,” Norbiato said.
Full list of Aussie sports stars in Kia Tasman commercial:
Adam Reynolds – Brisbane Broncos Club Captain and premiership winner
Alexander Volkanovski – UFC legend and former featherweight champion
Alfie Langer – Rugby league legend and four-time premiership winner
Ashleigh Barty – Former world number one and Grand Slam winning tennis champion
Brianna Clark- Brisbane Broncos NRLW star
Buddy Franklin – Australian rules legend who kicked more than 1,000 goals during his career
Damien Oliver – Three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey
Darren Lockyer – Former rugby league player and Australian captain
David Boon – Former Australian cricket legend
Dermott Brereton – Five-time premiership winner and former Australian rules footballer
Dylan Alcott – Australia’s most successful wheelchair tennis player
Jessica Watson – Sailor and OAM recipient
John Aloisi – Former professional soccer player and current coach of Western United
Kerry O’Keeffe – Former Australian cricketer and dad joke specialist
MacKenzie Arnold – Current Matildas goalkeeper
Mark Occhilupo – Former Australian professional surfer and world title winner
Patrick Carrigan – Brisbane Broncos and Australian rugby league player
Wendell Sailor – Former dual International: Rugby League / Rugby Union
Scott Sattler – Former NRL player and cover tackle specialist
Steve Waugh – Former Australian cricket captain and AO recipient
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