It may seem odd that the Kia Tasman dual-cab ute will soon be launched only with a diesel engine, and without any form of electrified powertrains.
That’s especially so given the Korean brand’s well-stocked inventory of petrol-electric (HEV) and battery-electric (EV) vehicle technologies, and the number of competitors adding hybrid drivetrains.
But the carmaker’s first pickup is expected to eventually become available with at least EV power.
Speaking with CarExpert at the a local prototype drive for the Tasman, Kia Australia’s general manager for product Roland Rivero said the Tasman’s new bespoke ladder-frame platform accommodates multiple powertrain types.
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“So what’s on the cards of being studied and reviewed, there’s definitely hybrid and [full] electrification. When, is still very much TBC,” Mr Rivero said.
“I think the focus right now for all the markets that [Kia Global] has developed the Tasman [for] is ‘we’ve given you the starting point, achieve your respective business plans and what you’ve promised to achieve with Tasman, and we can look at what needs to be done to sustain that or grow in the years to com’.
“Tasman will have a long model life. Traditional [light commercial vehicle lifecycles] are anywhere from eight to 12 years – expect to see the same for Tasman, and to sustain demand and appeal for such a long period of time, you can’t sit on your laurels.”
Mr Rivero added that the Tasman’s ladder-frame chassis is a “fairly modular platform” which can “underpin numerous powertrains”.
For now, however, Australia is only getting a Euro 5 emissions-compliant version (ie: no AdBlue) of the carmaker’s 154kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, matched to both 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains. Shifting gears is an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.
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Pre-production model shown
Mr Rivero ruled out Australian availability of the 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine offered in the Korean market, citing pressure from the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which will see carmakers financially penalised for not meeting average emissions caps from July 1, 2025.
The turbo-petrol motor available abroad could, however, be implemented in a future hybrid drivetrain.
Last month the Hyundai Motor Group – parent of the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands – detailed the next generation of its hybrid technologies, hinting at its future product plans.
Debuting in the new Hyundai Palisade large SUV, which is powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid system, the new set of electrified technologies are claimed to improve performance and efficiency, as well as general driveability.
You can read more about it here, but the takeaway relating to the Tasman is a small note in the release stating that a rear-wheel drive-biased version of the 2.5 turbo hybrid is in the works for a 2026 introduction.
While this is likely being developed primarily for the Genesis luxury division, it could also be tailored to the Tasman ute, given it already employs the non-hybrid version of that powertrain.
As for a battery-electric version, Kia South Africa’s head of marketing, Christo Valentyn, told CarBuzz in December last year that a Tasman EV was definitely “coming”, though he didn’t give an indication on timing.
“I’m probably not supposed to say this, but… an electric one is coming,” Mr Valentyn reportedly said at a media roundtable.
Kia confirmed globally in 2022 that it was working on two utes: “a dedicated electric pickup truck and a strategic model for emerging markets”, the latter of which is understood to be a battery-electric Tasman derivative.
An electric Tasman would give Kia a rival for the upcoming LDV eTerron 9, while other brands like Ford have indicated globally that they’re working on electric utes of their own to compete in this segment.
There are also an increasing number of traditional hybrid (GWM Cannon Alpha and Toyota Tundra) and plug-in hybrid (BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha Hi4-T) utes either already on sale here or coming to Australia.
Are you hanging out for a Tasman Hybrid or EV? Tell us in the comments section!
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