New Kia Tasman teaser video makes ute sound like monster Ford Ranger Raptor fighting petrol V8, but there's a catch...

Kia Tasman render (Image: Korean Car Blog)

Kia's global campaign of teaser trailers for its upcoming Tasman ute has set tongues wagging, with many keen-eared observers noting the model being filmed does not sound like a four-cylinder diesel.

In fact, the hearty thrum of the exhaust suggests a bigger petrol engine — like a V6 or even a V8 — which sent hopes for a Tasman rival to the Ford Ranger Raptor soaring.

But we have some bad news for you. The vehicle in Kia's go-fast teaser films isn't powered by some big V8 or twin-turbo V6, it's fitted with the brand's four-cylinder diesel engine – the very same that will be under the hood when the Tasman touches down in Australia.

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CarsGuide understands that, despite the raucous soundtrack, it's definitely a diesel donk under the Tasman's still-camouflaged bonnet.

While Kia in Australia is yet to fully detail the Tasman's local powertrain, we have no shortage of educated guesses about what will be powering it when it is officially revealed with the teaser's sound design mostly digital manipulation.

The brand has already flagged that a "familiar" four-cylinder diesel engine, which all but locks in the 2.2-litre engine found in the Kia Carnival, which produces 148kW and 440Nm, and which pairs with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

There will be a manual option, too, along with a 1000kg-plus payload and a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, both of which have been flagged as non-negotiables by Kia in Australia.

Kia Tasman render (Image: Thanos Pappas)

"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," Kia Australia's GM of Product Planning, Roland Rivero, has previously told CarsGuide.

"We're not mucking around when it comes to the ute. We want to make sure that the first attempt at a ute from our brand is one that's going to do well in our market.

The Kia Tasman could land in Australia sooner than we first thought, with the start-of-production date for the hotly anticipated dual-cab ute now locked in for late 2024, according to new reports from Korean media.

New reports out of Korea point to the Tasman production line firing up in December 2024, which mean the ute could be in Australia at the very end of this year, or more likely in January 2025.