Sales and deliveries of the Tasman, which will adopt a body-on-frame architecture, should kick off in 2025
September 26, 2024 at 06:59
- The Kia Tasman will be sold throughout the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
- The long-awaited Toyota Hilux rival is tipped to launch with a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel.
- A high-performance version to compete with the Ford Ranger Raptor is possible.
The Kia Tasman pickup truck may celebrate its global premiere at the Jeddah International Motor Show running from October 29 through to November 2 in Saudi Arabia.
While electing to unveil this important new model in Saudi Arabia may sound like an odd choice on Kia’s part, the Tasman will be sold throughout the Middle East, and the truth is, there are fewer and fewer important international auto shows where it can be showcased to the public. Deliveries of the Tasman should begin in 2025.
Watch: New Kia Tasman Teaser Wants Us To Know It’s Ready To Rumble
Kia has not confirmed when the Tasman will be launched, and South Korean publication Maeil Business Newspaper is behind the report about its Jeddah premiere. We have reached out to Kia seeking further clarification about when the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux rival will launch.
Several teaser videos of the Tasman have been released in recent months. The pickup has been subject to over 18,000 rounds of tests and taken to the most inhospitable areas on the planet, including the deserts of the Middle East and the outback of Australia. Most recently, it’s been shown testing through sand dunes and towing along off-road trails. Kia has also conducted extensive track tests of the Tasman to ensure it can handle whatever future owners will throw at it.
As mentioned, the vehicle will rival the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger, but will also do battle with the likes of the Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-Max. It’s expected to be underpinned by the same body-on-frame architecture as the second-generation Mohave SUV and will likely come standard with a 2.2-liter CRDi four-cylinder engine producing 199 hp and 325 lb-ft (441 Nm) of torque. Some reports have suggested a larger 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 is a possibility, as is a high-performance version to rival the Ranger Raptor with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6.
Key markets for the Tasman will include the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia. It may also be available in Europe. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely the truck will be sold in the United States.