Kia Tasman teased – new Toyota Hilux competing pickup truck confirmed in Australia; ASEAN too?
From the left, Kia has announced that it will launch a car model new pickup truck somewhere next year. It’s called Tasman, named after the island of Tasmania in Australia, and is said to “redefine the concept of a new lifestyle.”
This statement, along with the brand calling it a “C-segment pickup,” initially suggested that this would simply be a rebranding of the passenger-car-based brand. Hyundai Santa Cruz. However, it’s been reported that Kia instead went it alone and built a proper body-on-frame one-tonne truck, similar to the All-conquering. Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger And Mitsubishi Triton. These reports are backed up by spy shots of a boxy prototype that rides much higher than the more road-oriented Hyundai.
All of this confirms that, unlike the North America-only Santa Cruz, the Tasman will be sold in global markets such as Australia, Africa and the Middle East – regions that are extremely popular with frame trucks ladder than their monocoque brethren. Of course, this increases the likelihood that the truck will be offered in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand (and yes, Malaysia too), where one-ton trucks dominate.
No technical details were released, but Kia already has the foundation for a pretty good pickup truck, especially the 2.2-liter R 4-cylinder diesel engine that has long been used in the car models like Kia. Sorento And Carnival. In its latest version, it produces 202 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque, making it competitive – if not segment-leading – with other models in the one-ton truck segment. . A lower output of 177 PS/431 Nm also exists, powering the engine. Hyundai Staria. The mill is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Kia also has access to plug-in hybrid powertrains to meet growing demand for electric pickup trucks. This combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 90 horsepower electric motor. Sorento develops a total power output of 264 PS and offers an all-electric range of 51 km thanks to the 13.8 kWh battery. Such a powertrain would keep the Tasman competitive PHEV Ranger.
Previous photos and videos show a large double-bed pickup truck with all the hallmarks of a traditional one-ton truck, including an upright design with plenty of angular lines and clean surfaces. face is chiseled. Added to this are Kia’s latest design touches, such as the wide “tiger nose” grille and vertical headlights, similar to the Kia. Upgraded Sorento And Carnival.
There are also some special touches, such as thick black body panels that cover just the top of the fenders. Elsewhere, you’ll find a solid rear axle and leaf springs at the back, while a toggle for selecting two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and low-range four-wheel drive is on the center console. heart. This shows how seriously the Korean automaker is building a rugged truck for harsh environments.
Kia’s new 1 ton truck was first announced in 2021 as a “strategic” vehicle for emerging markets. This is one of two pickup truck models being developed, the other is a pure electric vehicle capable of competing with large American competitors such as Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, Chevrolet Silverado EV And Tesla e-truck.
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