Excitement is brewing as Kia Australia annouced plans to introduce its first-ever ute, the 2025 Kia Tasman, slated to hit showrooms next year. The highly anticipated addition to the local range, widely expected to be named the Tasman, is already generating buzz as expressions of interest open for what promises to be a formidable competitor to Australia’s best sellers – the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
With Australia firmly at the helm of the ute’s development, Kia is touting it as their “most Australian product ever.” With the Korean giant leaving no stone unturned in the new ute’s development, its local team has been tasked with ensuring that the Tasman’s suspension is finely tuned for local roads and that the ute is robust enough for our demanding conditions. Kia’s new ute will certainly have its work cut out.
While Kia’s recent TV commercial, featuring a constellation of Australia’s top sporting stars, hints at the name being under wraps, eagle-eyed viewers have spotted subtle clues pointing towards the moniker ‘Tasman.’ From a dart landing on the Tasman Sea on a map to a strategically placed ‘Hotel Tas-‘ sign, the evidence is mounting.
Adding to the intrigue, Kia has teased the silhouette of its forthcoming ute on its website, showcasing a rugged profile distinct from other utes. One thing’s for sure, Aussies will be in for a treat come 2025.
The Kia Tasman is slated to arrive in Australian showrooms with diesel power, with an electric version expected to follow in the coming years. Photographs of the vehicle undergoing testing in South Korea and Sweden have already piqued interest, especially with its heavy-duty underpinnings and impressive towing capacity of 3500kg.
Engine specifics remain unconfirmed, but speculation points towards the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, already found in the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, boasting impressive power and torque, along with decent economy.
Damien Meredith, CEO of Kia Australia, expressed his enthusiasm for the 2025 Kia Tasman, stating, “We are now officially taking Expressions of Interest (EOI) on the Kia Australia website… We invite all ute-loving Australians to sign up and join us on the journey.”
As anticipation builds and expressions of interest pour in, Kia Australia gears up to revolutionise the ute market with the much-anticipated Tasman, promising to deliver a vehicle that goes toe to toe with the current class leading utes. Will Kia be successful? Only time will tell! Stay tuned to DiscoverAuto to find out.
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