Kia Tasman News

Kia appears to have solved its biggest hurdle in bringing a Tasman Hybrid to market, with what appears to be a rear-drive version of the company's 2.5-litre turbo-hybrid powertrain spied testing in Europe.

We have just gotten our first proper look at the powertrain that will likely propel the Kia Tasman out of the diesel era, with heavy reporting that the brand is plotting a 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid powertrain for its dual-cab ute in 2026.

Driver-assist technology is supposed to do just that – assist the driver – but sometimes the application of it in the real world ranges from annoying to bloody atrocious depending on the vehicle you’re driving at the time.

Hyundai is joining the ute arms race.The South Korean brand has confirmed it will build a ute to rival the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux before 2030.The company confirmed it would be fit for purpose with rugged ladder frame underpinnings, which supports all the other four-wheel drive utes.Hyundai is expected to use the expertise gained from sister brand Kia’s new Tasman dual-cab ute, which launched in Australia this year.Hyundai’s workhorse is likely to forgo the Tasman’s diesel-power and focus on petrol, hybrid or plug-in hybrid grunt.New Hyundai Australia boss Don Romano told CarsGuide recently, "Australia doesn't need another diesel ute".Instead, petrol, petrol-hybrid or plug-in hybrid options are being explored."I think we have to look at options. And I can't tell you whether that's a PHEV, a HEV or a BEV, but I think those are options that have to be considered. And I think those are the areas that will give us an opportunity for expansion," he said.This will give Hyundai a genuine competitor to the Ford Ranger PHEV and the instant hit BYD Shark 6.BYD’s Shark 6 makes a combined 321kW and 650Nm and can sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in 5.7 seconds.Ford’s new Ranger PHEV makes 207kW and 697Nm from its petrol-electric combo. The Ranger also has a 3500kg towing capacity compared to the Shark 6’s pedestrian 2500kg.Any Hyundai PHEV ute will need to match or better these two market leaders if it wants to stand a chance.A plug-in hybrid or hybrid is more likely to give the Tasman some breathing room, so it doesn’t have to compete with its own corporate cousin.It also points to the Hyundai ute being more focused on North America and other global markets where petrol is preferred over diesel.Strengthening the vehicle’s North American bent is Hyundai has confirmed it will co-develop the ute with General Motors.US Outlet Car and Driver claimed Hyundai’s global boss Jose Munoz said the ute would spawn a rugged off-roader.This would give Hyundai an answer to the popular Toyota Prado and Ford Everest.Kia has also been linked to a tough 4WD based on its Tasman ute.Kia hasn’t confirmed the vehicle but said it is a possibility, but it needed to make sure the Tasman was a success before it spawned any other variants or vehicles.

Sorry, Swifties. While we appreciate the cultural phenomenon that is singer/songwriter, artist and philanthropist Taylor Swift, this is not a paean to a great pop star, but, rather, a reference to the year that marked Japan’s stellar ascension as the biggest threat to the established carmakers of that time. Their fear was existential as well as actual.

The biggest threat to the established ute order might be from a brand which currently doesn't have one.

Hyundai looks increasingly likely to forge its own path when it comes to its now-confirmed mid-size ute, with the brand's Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival to ditch diesel in favour of petrol and electrification to secure sales both in Australia and the USA.

Where does the Kia Tasman go from here? Is having a conventional diesel engine as the sole choice enough to run with the best-sellers? Should the Tasman follow the lead of the Ranger Raptor by going down the off-road performance path, to create a halo model for the rest of the range to bask beneath? Or is going hybrid the answer? The answer may shock you!

The dust has not even settled on the Australian launch of the Kia Tasman, but attention is now already turning to what the next vehicle to be based on the one-tonne ute’s body-on-frame platform will be. With Kia revealing that the Tasman is the first of several, still-secret vehicles to be built on its unique TK platform, the front runner would surely be the much-speculated SUV version, which would take on the Ford Everest, Toyota Prado, Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and GWM Tank 500 from about 2028.

With dual cab ‘pick-up’ versions of its just-released Tasman ute now in local showrooms, Kia has confirmed pricing for cab chassis variants of the much-anticipated newcomer.