The Kia Tasman: Kia reveals the name of its upcoming Ute – Update 11th March 2024
Kia Tasman – Kia has confirmed the name of its highly anticipated Ute: the Tasman. The Kia Tasman is the first Kia product with a name analogous to Australia. Further cementing its status as the most Australian Kia yet.
- Kia names its first-ever Ute Tasman – the most Australian Kia yet
- The Kia Tasman is the first Kia product to be bestowed an Australian-inspired name
- Name inspired by the Tasman Sea and Abel Tasman, the namesake explorer who discovered Australia’s island state, Tasmania
- The Kia Tasman will combine work-focused capability with lifestyle-orientated versatility
Unlike a lot of out competitor websites that have speculated on what may or may not be, we are reporting what Kia have said and is available for them. Also we don’t have studio generated designs of what it may look like.
Selected from a pool of names sourced from Kia’s global markets, ‘Tasman’ was initially proposed by Kia Australia. And ultimately chosen for its connection to the Tasman Sea and Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. Who discovered the rugged landscapes of Tasmania. Each of these elements lends itself to a spirit of enduring toughness, grit, and resilience. Reflecting the rugged character and matching capabilities of the Kia Tasman.
Kia Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Damien Meredith, said “The team at Kia Australia has been working closely with the Research and Development team at headquarters to develop Tasman. A vehicle we believe will meet the needs of our unique market. So it’s very rewarding that it has been granted an Australian-inspired name befitting its personality.”
Ambitious sales targets
“We have strong ambitions for Tasman in our market, and the fact that its name has such distinct links to our region is evidence of Kia Australia’s instrumental role in its development and future success.“
The Tasman represents Kia’s bold first step into the Ute market, designed with a range of work, trade, and leisure pursuits in mind. With the debut of the brand’s first-ever Ute. Kia expands its ICE lineup beyond sedans, SUVs, and MPVs, setting the stage for a comprehensive range of vehicles.
Lofirst confirmed its venture into the local Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market in in March of this year, releasing the ‘Kia’s getting a ute’ TVC campaign in which 20 of Australia’s most iconic sporting figures debated what the Kia ute should be named. Kia Australia is taking Expressions of Interest via the Kia Australia website to enable people to stay informed leading up to the vehicle’s global launch in 2025.
Possible engine and drivetrain choices
Kia has been here before, albeit a long time ago. The Kia Sorento was previously a robust dual range 4WD SUV. Then it went soft.
Kia Sorento 4WD VS Hyundai Santa Fe Video review
Kia have available the tried and tested 2.2L 4 Cylinder turbo diesel engine matched to a smooth 8 speed Automatic Transmission.
This produces power of 148kW @ 2,800 rpm and torque of 440Nm between 1,750 – 2,750 rpm.
That immediately places it alongside the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Nissan Navara.
The benchmark though for the HiLux and 2.0L Ford Ranger is now 150kW/500Nm
This is the engine we will most likely see first up.
We can but hope to see the Tasman come out with something approaching the HiLux GR Sports 165kW/550Nm. That will be cool
They also have the 3.5L V6 Petrol. This produces power of 200kW @ 6,3000 rpm and torque of 332Nm at 6,000 rpm. Again matched to the same 8 Sp AT.
Its unlikely we will see this engine given how the world is moving away from pure petrol engines and that the 3.5L V6 doesn’t have AWD in any of the models its in currently.
The 1.6T Hybrid engine would be an interesting choice. But at power of 132kW @ 5,500 rpm and torque of 265Nm between 1,500 – 4,500 rpm. Its a good engine but a bit lightweight for a Ute.
Obviously Kia have the electric motor out of the EV9, but its heavy and would be impractical for a Ute.
Kia’s getting a Ute: 20 Australian sporting icons come together in new launch campaign – update 4th March 2024
- 20 Australian sporting icons star in TV commercial to launch the Kia Ute
- The campaign confirms Kia Australia’s entry into the Australian Ute market
- Expressions of Interest officially open for the new Kia Ute due in 2025
Kia Australia has confirmed its entry into the local Light Commercial Vehicle market with the launch of a new TV commercial featuring 20 of Australia’s most iconic sporting figures.
Coinciding with the LCV announcement, Kia will also commence taking Expressions of Interest on their website for any Australian looking to be kept up to date during the vehicle’s road to launch.
The backdrop for the advertisement is an iconic Australian pub where the sporting legends debate what the Kia Ute should be named. The Kia Ute is due to be unveiled in late 2024, with the first Australian examples expected to hit local roads in 2025.
Kia Australia Chief Executive Officer, Damien Meredith said, “Kia Australia has always been very candid about our desire to bring a Light Commercial Vehicle to the local market, so it is with great excitement that we are taking an important step towards it becoming a reality.”
Kia Ute Expressions of interest
“We are now officially taking Expressions of Interest (EOI) on the Kia Australia website, for both private and fleet customers, and we invite all-loving Australians to sign up and join us on the journey.”
“As an incentive, the EOI group will be kept up to date of the latest news and developments from now, right up until its Australian launch in 2025.”
“This includes an extensive local ride and handling program, covering tens of thousands of unrelenting Aussie kilometres, to ensure it meets the hard-working requirements of the Aussie public.”
Kia Australia General Manager of Marketing, Dean Norbiato said that the inspiration for the TVC came from the time-honoured Aussie tradition of everyone having a nickname.
“We were looking for a unique and quintessentially Aussie way to launch Kia’s most Australian product ever – our ute – and what better way than to bring together our country’s most iconic themes – sporting heroes, nicknames and an old-fashioned Aussie watering hole,” Mr Norbiato said.
TV Commercial
The campaign is arguably the biggest cast of famous faces in an Australian TV commercial, boasting between them:
- 29 Premierships,
- four Paralympic gold medals,
- four World Championships,
- 26 Grand Slams,
- 1 Golden Slam,
- three Melbourne Cups,
- six sporting captains,
- two Australians of the Year,
- two Young Australians of the Year and
- nine Hall of Fame entrants.
The TVC can be viewed here.
Credits
Creative Agency: Innocean Australia
Production Company: Scoundrel
Director: Ariel Martin
Media Agency: Advertising Associates
PR Agency: Enthral
List of talent involved
Adam Reynolds – Brisbane Broncos Club Captain and premiership winner
Alexander Volkanovski – UFC legend and former featherweight champion
Alfie Langer – Rugby league legend and four-time premiership winner
Ashleigh Barty – Former world number one and Grand Slam winning tennis champion
Brianna Clark– Brisbane Broncos NRLW star
Buddy Franklin – Australian rules legend who kicked more than 1,000 goals during his career
Damien Oliver – Three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey
Darren Lockyer – Former rugby league player and Australian captain
David Boon – Former Australian cricket legend
Dermott Brereton – Five-time premiership winner and former Australian rules footballer
Dylan Alcott – Australia’s most successful wheelchair tennis player
Jessica Watson – Sailor and OAM recipient
John Aloisi – Former professional soccer player and current coach of Western United
Kerry O’Keeffe – Former Australian cricketer and dad joke specialist
MacKenzie Arnold – Current Matildas goalkeeper
Mark Occhilupo – Former Australian professional surfer and world title winner
Patrick Carrigan – Brisbane Broncos and Australian rugby league player
Wendell Sailor – Former dual International: Rugby League / Rugby Union
Scott Sattler – Former NRL player and cover tackle specialist
Steve Waugh – Former Australian cricket captain and AO recipient
