This is our best look yet at the Kia Tasman, the company’s highly anticipated new dual-cab ute, ahead of its global reveal at the end of October.
These shadowy images were released by Kia but we have been able to adjust them so you can see more of the detail. It’s still not a clear picture of the new Ford Ranger rival, but it does reveal more detail of what to expect.
Kia has clearly opted for a boxy, angular silhouette, but the details show a more rounded and contemporary front end, which will certainly set the Tasman apart from its more established competitors. The press release called the design “progressive” and said the Tasman has “been designed so owners can engage in a broad range of professional and lifestyle activities while addressing the drawbacks typical of existing pickup truck designs
The South Korean company didn’t give away too much else, but did reveal the new ute has undergone 1777 specific tests to ensure it’s tough enough for real-world use.
While there aren’t too many official details we do have a good idea about what to expect. For starters, the Tasman will almost certainly sit on a new ladder-frame chassis, which means this is a proper, one-tonne dual-cab and not an SUV-based ‘lifestyle’ ute. It’s expected 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.
VIDEO: Watch Kia’s star-studded TV spot for the Tasman ute
The Tasman is a key new model for Kia Australia and the company has already spent big on promoting it, creating a high-profile television commercial with more 20 Australian sporting superstars, including Steve Waugh, Ash Barty, Buddy Franklin, Wendell Sailor and MacKenzie Arnold just to tease its name.
The covers will come off the Tasman at the Jeddah International Motor Show on October 29, so stay tuned for the complete reveal then.
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