The advertisement linked below won't show you what the car will look like, but it does cement what Kia's been planning - a pick-up truck, and the Australian market will be among the first to get it.
Rounding up 20 of Australia's greatest sportspeople, the ad is one that's peppered with easter eggs - the main ones concerning its name, 'Tasman'. A dart strikes a board on the Tasman sea, and if you zoom in the newspaper clipping, it references a 4x4 vehicle named 'The Tasman'.
Hints and clues aside, what we do know about Kia's Hilux competitor is that it's due to be revealed in full later this year, before beginning first Australian deliveries in 2025. Registrations of Interest are already open in the country.
Specs haven't been listed yet, though rumours swirl around it having three powertrain options: a turbodiesel, a petrol engine, and even a battery-electric (BEV) version. It's also said to be a ladder-frame vehicle to aid off-road credentials.
Making a pick-up truck might prove to be an astute move for Kia, especially in a market dominated by them. 2023 best-selling vehicles in Australia were led by the Ford Ranger (63,356 units sold), Toyota Hilux (61,111 units sold), and Isuzu D-Max (31,302 units sold).
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
