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Future models - Kia - Tasman - SUVKia Aus wants ute to spawn Everest SUV rivalLocal Kia branch keen for Tasman ute platform to evolve into three-row off-road SUV30 Oct 2024 KIA Australia’s senior management team says it has been “vocal” about its desire to add a ute-based three-row SUV to its ranks, based on the new-generation Tasman ute’s underpinnings.
The hardcore dual-cab pick-up truck has only just been revealed, but it has been in the works for years – and like many ladder-chassis, body-on-frame models, there is potential to adapt the platform to create a more family-focused SUV model, akin to the Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Isuzu MU-X. Kia Australia general manager of product planning Roland Rivero said the brand is eager to add a model such as the aforementioned 4x4 wagons to its range, should something like that become broadly available.
“Look, I think we’ve been pretty vocal,” he said about the brand’s desire for a more rugged three-row model to sit alongside the Sorento seven-seater.
“We’ve said we would love to see (an SUV based on the Tasman platform) – just looking at the success of the Everest, for example, it’d be great,” Mr Rivero said. “We’ve got our hand up for one, if it was decided – globally – to develop it. And they asked for Australia’s opinion; we would love to bring one in. “But there’s a lot more than just Australia (that) influences these decisions, so we would need the collective regions to also want it.” Kia has offered the Mojave ladder-frame model in some markets, but it has never been built in right-hand drive.
The new Tasman ute carries over a new version of the venerable 2.2-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine seen in the Sorento, with 154kW and 441Nm – less than many rival utes.
But, Kia says, the additional transmission cooling and reworked gearbox calibration for the Tasman allows the rigid new truck to cope with up to 3500kg braked towing, as well as a payload in excess of 1000kg for all models at launch.
The three-row ute-based SUV segment is strong in 2024, with the first three-quarters of the year seeing the Ford Everest dominate with 18,613 sales, up almost 80 per cent year-to-date. It is followed by the soon-to-be-updated Isuzu MU-X (14,228 YTD), and 5901 units for the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, year-to-date.
Kia’s softer Sorento SUV has also seen a strong sales year so far, with 7748 vehicles sold to the end of September, on the back of a recent facelift for that family-focused soft-roader.  Read more29th of October 2024  Tasman out in Hobart: Kia ute here next yearKia Tasman ute expected to consist of three dual-cab grades, all with a 2.2L dieselAll future models Alfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chery Brabham Chrysler Chevrolet Cupra Citroen DS Dodge Fiat Ferrari Foton Ford Great Wall FPV Haval GWM Honda Holden Hummer HSV Infiniti Hyundai Jaguar Isuzu Kia Jeep Land Rover Lamborghini Lexus LDV Mahindra Lotus Mazda Maserati Mercedes-AMG McLaren MG Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Mini Opel Nissan Peugeot Pagani Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo VolkswagenMotor industry news GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
Click to shareKia modelsResearch Kia All future modelsAlfa RomeoAbarthAlpineAlpinaAudiAston MartinBMWBentleyCheryBrabhamChryslerChevroletCupraCitroenDSDodgeFiatFerrariFotonFordGreat WallFPVHavalGWMHondaHoldenHummerHSVInfinitiHyundaiJaguarIsuzuKiaJeepLand RoverLamborghiniLexusLDVMahindraLotusMazdaMaseratiMercedes-AMGMcLarenMGMercedes-BenzMitsubishiMiniOpelNissanPeugeotPaganiProtonPorscheRenaultRamRoverRolls-RoyceSkodaSaabSsangYongSmartSuzukiSubaruToyotaTeslaVolvoVolkswagenMotor industry newsGoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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