Kia Australia executives have poured chilly water over the concept of an SUV based mostly on the upcoming TK/Tasman ute that will put it in opposition to the likes of the Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, and Toyota Fortuner.
Requested instantly concerning the potential of a Kia TK/Tasman-based SUV, Kia Australia product planning basic supervisor Roland Rivero mentioned the corporate isn’t one “at this time limit”.
That doesn’t imply the model doesn’t need on nevertheless; Kia Australia chief government officer Damien Meredith additionally chimed in by saying “[of] course” the corporate would really like one.
The hotly anticipated Kia ute, known as TK internally and probably set to put on the Tasman identify, will go on sale regionally throughout the subsequent 24 to 36 months.
-
Kia TK/Tasman prototype
It’ll be based mostly on an all-new body-on-frame chassis and be produced in South Korea.
There’s an Australian reference to the brand new ute, as Kia’s engineers having been utilizing our ute-loving market as a take a look at mattress.
Mr Rivero mentioned “a number of guests have made the journey” to Australia to expertise the rivals and native circumstances.
A “substantial” quantity of labor on the ute has been completed in Australia, although “numerous work” continues to be to return based on Mr Rivero.
The TK/Tasman ute has been benchmarked in opposition to the likes of the Ford Ranger, Volkswagen Amarok and Toyota HiLux, and can pack diesel energy.
Regardless of executives ruling out the potential of an SUV based mostly on the TK/Tasman’s new body-on-frame platform for now, Mr Rivero was coy on the concept of a efficiency model that might go up in opposition to the Ford Ranger Raptor.
“You dissect [the ute] class there’s new sections of it that I believe each OEM would want to have a crack at. We’re no completely different,” mentioned Mr Rivero.
Prototypes of the Kia TK/Tasman ute have been spied testing in Korea disguised in sheetmetal from the venerable body-on-frame Mohave SUV.
-
Mohave
Whether or not that counsel the TK/Tasman will supply the identical engine because the Mohave is unclear.
In Korea, the Mohave is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine producing 189kW of energy and 560Nm of torque. For reference, the three.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine within the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok produces 184kW and 600Nm.
The Mohave gives four-wheel drive with digital low-range and a spread of terrain modes very like Kia’s different SUVs. An eight-speed automated transmission is customary.
Kia has homologated its newest 3.0-litre diesel to Euro 6 requirements, aligning it with emissions rules doubtless coming to Australia quickly, and at the moment in drive in different markets world wide.
MORE: Is Kia already engaged on a Ranger Raptor rival?
MORE: Kia Tasman ute: Daring gross sales targets revealed
MORE: Kia ute: Vendor leak reveals particulars about Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux rival
MORE: Kia ute spied once more with Mohave hyperlinks
MORE: Kia ute snapped testing in South Korea
