Kia has formally unveiled its first pickup truck, the Tasman earlier than it hits world markets. Resulting from its worldwide availability, Kia will provide the Tasman in a number of powertrain configurations, together with a diesel mannequin. Nonetheless, the Korean automaker can be growing two new all-electric pickups that can be bought within the US. Right this moment’s photos provide a take a look at what a BEV Kia pickup could appear like.
The Tasman is the first-ever pickup truck from Kia set for a world launch in 2025. Per its makers, the truck pushed the boundaries of what a pickup truck might be and can invite prospects to “dive into a brand new dimension.”
Kia started teasing the revealing of the Tasman earlier this month forward of the worldwide reveal immediately through the Jeddah Worldwide Motor Present. To start, this new pickup will launch in Korea with a 281PS 2.5-liter gasoline engine in addition to Australia with a 2.2-liter diesel model. Clients within the Center East and Africa will be capable of select from both configuration.
The ICE variations can be bought in varied trims, together with Base, X-Line, and X-Professional, with single- and double-cab variations. So why are we speaking about gasoline automobiles? It’s bizarre, however it’s as a result of Kia can be engaged on an all-electric model of the Tasman pickup we noticed being examined this previous Could.
Whereas we await the arrival of Kia’s first all-electric pickup, unveiling the combustion variations of the Tasman gives hints as to what a extra sustainable mannequin could appear like. Listed below are some recent photos:
Kia’s first pickup has arrived, however the place’s the electrical one?
What was attention-grabbing about Kia’s press launch following the worldwide reveal of the Tasman was that there was no point out of any BEV fashions. That may very well be as a result of the information got here from Kia World, not Kia US, so the information pertains to different markets that may see the gasoline variations.
We’ve recognized about Kia’s plans for a minimum of two all-electric pickups since 2022 when it shared plans for one devoted EV mannequin in addition to a “strategic mannequin for rising markets.” On the time, Kia confirmed that “electrical variations of those fashions can be produced regionally (within the US) from 2024.”
Nonetheless, we beforehand reported a camouflaged model of the Tasman being examined in California, hinting that the combustion model may also make its approach to the US. Right here’s a picture of a camo’d mannequin being examined for comparability to the variations proven above:
Moreover, Kia was noticed testing an electrical pickup within the US over the summer time, however it doesn’t look like the identical design because the Tasman and extra carefully resembles the EV9. It doesn’t seem that Kia will hit the 2024 manufacturing goal for the all-electric pickup however there are nonetheless two months left to unveil it to the general public.
Kia has not but shared any specs pertaining to the all-electric pickup, however it needs to be constructed atop Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, which is prone to ship a minimum of 300 miles of vary.
We are going to be taught extra because the all-electric pickup nears manufacturing and Kia begins sharing particulars of its efficiency and different options earlier than gross sales begin within the US. We are going to carefully monitor this one and report again as we be taught extra.
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