Kia announced its intentions to release not one, but two electric pickups by 2027 in March 2022. The other will be a “strategic” truck for developing markets, while the first will be a “dedicated” model. Reading between the lines, it appears that the former would travel on a customized EV platform and the latter might make use of ICE bones. Additionally, a ladder-frame pickup will arrive sooner than you might expect. The “Tasman” is its temporary name, and it will make its debut in 2024.
In an interview with Australia’s Drive magazine, Kia’s Down Under subsidiary stated that the world premiere will happen at some time in 2019. The first trucks will be delivered to dealers in the middle of 2025, when domestic production is expected to start in South Korea. Prototypes that are still under development need to be tested in the meantime.
Kia Utes Scheduled:
Since a diesel engine will be an option, the Tasman won’t be the “dedicated” ute we previously mentioned. By providing both ICE and EV powertrains depending on the market, it can be the “strategic” pickup. It is stated to be a body-on-frame double cab with a payload rating of about 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds) and a tow rating of 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds) when it is in diesel form.
Only a few test mules have been seen so far, and they all seemed to have a modified Mohave body, so the design is still a mystery. The body-on-frame Mohave, which was formerly marketed as the Borrego in the US, is still offered in a few regions after switching to the second generation (basically a significant facelift) in 2019. It’s unclear whether the Tasman will be an SUV pickup truck or something completely else.
Since the Australian market will be one of the company’s important markets, Drive has discovered that the Australian division of the automaker is “heavily involved” in the development stage. The workhorse, code-named TK, hasn’t been tested in Australia yet, but final validation testing will be done there in 2019.
from :Drive
