Kia Tasman Pickup to Debut Globally on October 29 at Jeddah International Motor Show

Kia's first C-segment pickup truck, the Tasman, will make its global debut on October 29 at the 2024 Jeddah International Motor Show in Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made on social media but without any further details. Having said that, the clip accompanying the debut date shows the black Tasman driving in the desert with no camouflage. Although shadowy, the teaser reveals an upright front end marked out by a squarish grille (with vertical slats), vertically stacked LED headlamps and conspicuous fenders. There seem to be boxy wheel arches along the sides, while the rear fascia could get the Kia lettering slapped onto the tailgate. Announced as part of the company's plans to launch 14 electric vehicles by 2027, the Kia Tasman is a mid-size pickup having its sights set on the Volkswagen Amarok, Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and the Isuzu D-Max. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paeq6fsnkWI&t=3s

Also Read: Kia Tasman Pickup Truck Officially Teased with Australia-inspired Camouflage; to Launch in 2025

Kia Tasman: Underpinnings, Powertrain

Priorly referred to by its internal name 'TK', the Kia Tasman rides on the body-on-frame architecture against Hyundai's unibody construction like the Kona and the Santa Cruz. The technical details are under wraps, but we expect the Tasman to get a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which is rated for 196bhp and 441Nm of peak torque in the Hyundai Santa Fe. The engine could come with two transmission options: manual and automatic. Also, there is a possibility that the company may offer a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with the Tasman. The Tasman might also get a 4x4 or all-wheel drive system. 

The previous spy shots have shown a digital cockpit, sunroof, and heated seats, among other things. The Kia Tasman will be sold in international markets, but we haven't heard anything about its launch in India. It will be initially offered in the Middle East, Korea, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Also Read: New Kia Carnival MPV Launched at Rs 63.90 Lakh in India

The electric version of the Tasman could be introduced in 2027, given that Kia previously revealed its plans to launch two electric trucks by 2027 – one is a 'dedicated' vehicle that will be based on a bespoke electric platform and another is a 'strategic' model for emerging markets. The latter is expected to employ an internal combustion engine-based architecture.