It seems you can’t sell a ute in Australia without offering an even more offroad-ready version worked over by a local engineering business.
Premcar developed the Nissan Navara SL and Pro-4X Warrior, while Walkinshaw has been even more prolific in this space, launching the WAU Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max Blade and the defunct Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme and various Volkswagen Amarok W-Series models.
With the Kia Tasman entering the crowded ute market, naturally we had to ask: will Walkinshaw or Premcar be tasked with fettling the new Korean ute?`
“I think again we’ve got a long, long model life cycle or product life cycle to look forward to, so we won’t close that door,” Roland Rivero, Kia Australia product planning general manager, told CarExpert.
“There has been interest, the Premcars of this world have knocked on the door and said let’s look at a partnership.
“For now, [it’s a matter of] let’s get the fundamentals right first and foremost, get the core volume areas of Tasman understood… we’ve kept it simple for the entry for the launch phase for now.”
Kia says the Tasman has the most complex model range of any vehicle it has introduced in Australia.
It’s focusing on the heart of the ute market with single-cab/chassis and dual-cab/chassis and dual-cab pickup derivatives, all powered by a four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.
It has indicated the Tasman will have the typically long lifecycle of a ute – likely around 10 years – which leaves plenty of time for Kia to introduce new variants to keep things fresh.
That may include a locally tuned model, as well as hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric versions. Indeed, Mr Rivero said there are “no sacred cows” when it comes to the Tasman.
Locally tuned utes like the D-Max Blade and Navara Warrior typically don’t offer any extra power, but do bring enhancements aimed at improving off-road ability.
For example, the D-Max Blade features a higher ride height, retuned suspension, a wider track, and a raft of cosmetic enhancements.
A similar formula applied to the Tasman could see Kia offer an even more capable version of its new ute than the X-Pro variant, which features 252mm of ground clearance, an automatically engaging electronic locking rear differential, off-road cruise control, a Ground View Monitor, and all-terrain tyres.
Don’t expect a Ford Ranger Raptor-rivalling Tasman variant, however, with Kia having all but ruled out a V6 model.
“We wouldn’t completely close the door [on a V6], but we’ve got to be mindful of, again, that word: NVES,” said Mr Rivero, noting the “huge” penalties that apply to brands that exceed their CO2 emissions targets as part of the federal government’s 2025 New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.
“[If] you dissect the category, over 80 per cent of sales are still in the four-cylinder category and we’ve gone for that big 80 to start off with.
“We do have a long product life cycle and you never know, but at this point in time, it’s looking highly unlikely.”
MORE: Everything Kia Tasman
