Kia has officially unveiled its first pickup truck, the Tasman before it hits global markets. Due to its worldwide availability, Kia will offer the Tasman in several powertrain configurations, including a diesel model. However, the Korean automaker is also developing two new all-electric pickups that will be sold in the US. Today’s images offer a look at what a BEV Kia pickup may look like.
The Tasman is the first-ever pickup truck from Kia set for a global launch in 2025. Per its makers, the truck pushed the boundaries of what a pickup truck can be and will invite customers to “dive into a new dimension.”
Kia began teasing the unveiling of the Tasman earlier this month ahead of the global reveal today during the Jeddah International Motor Show. To begin, this new pickup will launch in Korea with a 281PS 2.5-liter gasoline engine as well as Australia with a 2.2-liter diesel version. Customers in the Middle East and Africa will be able to choose from either configuration.
The ICE versions will be sold in various trims, including Base, X-Line, and X-Pro, with single- and double-cab variations. So why are we talking about gas cars? It’s weird, but it’s because Kia is also working on an all-electric version of the Tasman pickup we saw being tested this past May.
While we await the arrival of Kia’s first all-electric pickup, unveiling the combustion versions of the Tasman offers hints as to what a more sustainable model may look like. Here are some fresh images:
Kia’s first pickup has arrived, but where’s the electric one?
What was interesting about Kia’s press release following the global reveal of the Tasman was that there was no mention of any BEV models. That could be because the news came from Kia Global, not Kia US, so the news pertains to other markets that will see the gas versions.
We’ve known about Kia’s plans for at least two all-electric pickups since 2022 when it shared plans for one dedicated EV model as well as a “strategic model for emerging markets.” At the time, Kia confirmed that “electric versions of these models will be produced locally (in the US) from 2024.”
However, we previously reported a camouflaged version of the Tasman being tested in California, hinting that the combustion version might also make its way to the US. Here’s an image of a camo’d model being tested for comparison to the versions shown above:
Furthermore, Kia was spotted testing an electric pickup in the US over the summer, but it does not appear to be the same design as the Tasman and more closely resembles the EV9. It doesn’t appear that Kia will hit the 2024 production target for the all-electric pickup but there are still two months left to unveil it to the public.
Kia has not yet shared any specs pertaining to the all-electric pickup, but it should be built atop Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, which is likely to deliver at least 300 miles of range.
We will learn more as the all-electric pickup nears production and Kia begins sharing details of its performance and other features before sales start in the US. We will closely monitor this one and report back as we learn more.
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