Kia Tasman double act! Korean brand to launch turbo-diesel AND all-electric utes in Australia as brand takes aim at everything from the Toyota HiLux to the Ford Ranger Lightning and BYD

Kia will deliver a two-pronged ute strategy in Australia, with the Korean brand confirming it will launch the diesel-powered TK (thought to be called the Tasman) and an all-electric dual-cab to cover all market bases.

That would see the Kia ute go up against existing models like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, as well as future-proofing the brand against incoming electric utes like the potential Ranger Lightning and BYD's new ute.

With Kia's focus on a diesel dual-cab stretching back to 2019, it had been though that Hyundai would launch an electric ute while its sibling would stick with the diesel.

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But Kia says it will launch both powertrains, in keeping with announcements made by its Korean HQ.

As recently as at the brand's 2022 Investor Forum, Kia's senior executive team confirmed a plan to launch a total 14 electric vehicles, one of which would be a ute, all before 2027.

“We can’t talk about Hyundai, but we are still consistent in what we’ve said in the past,” Kia Australia's general manager of product planning, Roland Rivero, told CarsGuide.

“And that’s come all the way up from our global president. He made mention of an electric ute, and that narrative hasn’t changed.”

As to what will be powering it, there might even be a big clue right in front of us.

The EV9 is the brand's most capable and powerful EV to date, with 98.1kWh battery that delivers a 541km driving range, as well as twin electric motors that produce 283kW and up to 700Nm of torque,

That would make the electric ute more powerful than the diesel version, with a four-cylinder turbo-diesel firming for that model.

"We've said all along that if we're going to develop this vehicle, then it has to be a solid competitor for HiLux and Ranger," Rivero said.

"Look at the big-ticket (engines) that are doing the most sales. We always cut it up and dissect accordingly and look at where the big volume is."

The diesel-powered Kia ute is expected to arrive in 2025, followed by the all-electric version.