Kia Tasman Pickup Looks Like It'll Be Pretty Serious Off-Road
The Kia Tasman pickup is inching closer to production, and the brand has been busy testing the new truck to make sure it gets everything right before it launches next year. If a new teaser put out by Kia is any indication, the Tasman is going to be pretty legit off-road.
The Kia Amanti Was Basically a Knock-Off Mercedes
The Tasman has been a long time coming. Initial reports puzzled some, as people couldn’t believe Kia would be making a pickup, but plans for a Kia truck have been in the works for a long time. The first spy shots revealed the Tasman as a Ranger-sized pickup with funky, boxy styling. In a new YouTube video titled “Off-Road Test” Kia shows the hell it’s putting the Tasman through as it gets closer to the reveal.
The Kia Tasman | Off-roading test
In the video, which is part of a larger documentary detailing the Tasman’s development, the Tasman can be seen being tossed around off-road in Alabama Hills, California, and I’m impressed with what’s being shown. This thing looks to be the real deal. Tests included checks of its traction and clearance, and an uphill climb on a 40-percent gradient. The video ends with saying “Obstacles are meant to be overcome.”
Should other automakers be worried? Maybe. This is Kia we’re talking about — it’ll likely undercut the competition by thousands while offering a better warranty and more features. While we don’t know too many specifics, it’s been reported the truck will launch with a 2.2-liter turbodiesel in Australia and Korea. If comes to the U.S., which it potentially will, it may use the same 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 that was used in the Stinger and a number of Genesis models.
The Korean Car Blog recently reported Kia Australia asked corporate to develop an SUV version of the Tasman, with spy photos showing a camouflaged Tasman testing with what looks to be an extended roof over the bed. If the Tasman pickup and its potential SUV sibling come to the U.S., Kia might have another hit on its hands.
